Serbian politicians expect "changes"

While some Serbian ministers hope the U.S. elections will bring changes to Washington's policy, the U.S. ambassador says there won't be any. Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said in Belgrade that Serbia expects changes in the White House, and that it wishes to work with a new U.S. administration. Serbian politicians expect "changes" "We did not have a good relationship with the outgoing [Republican] American administration. We entered a sharp conflict over Kosovo and Metohija, because the U.S. policy toward Kosovo was absolutely unacceptable," Jeremic said. Americans are today casting their ballots, choosing between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. Jeremic explained that Serbia is "eagerly" awaiting the results of the vote, and, "like the rest of the world", expects changes in the U.S. administration. "Some changes will certainly take place, but how big they are will depend on who wins the election," the minister concluded. His cabinet and party colleague Bozidar Djelic, meanwhile, currently in France, said that Serbia must develop bilateral ties with the United States, "as the world's biggest superpower", regardless of who wins in the final of the presidential race today. Asked whether the ballot's outcome will affect Washington's policy toward Serbia, Djelic said that "America is a superpower that does not change its policy overnight", but added it is "hard to imagine an administration favoring Serbia less that the current one". "No change" But U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter told the 8th Serbia Economic Summit in Belgrade that today's U.S. presidential elections will not have any bearing on America's position toward "Kosovo, Serbia", or the Western Balkans. "There is a consensus among presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama to continue with the present policy toward the Western Balkans," he was quoted as saying on Tuesday. "We believe that the status of Kosovo has been determined and we hope for the success of the state of Kosovo, as well as the success of Serbia, in their European integrations," said Munter. "We support both countries and a reconciliation of all the countries in the region. The results will certainly change the atmosphere, whoever gets elected, but the essence will remain the same," the ambassador was confident.

Serbian politicians expect "changes"

"We did not have a good relationship with the outgoing [Republican] American administration. We entered a sharp conflict over Kosovo and Metohija, because the U.S. policy toward Kosovo was absolutely unacceptable," Jeremić said.

Americans are today casting their ballots, choosing between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

Jeremić explained that Serbia is "eagerly" awaiting the results of the vote, and, "like the rest of the world", expects changes in the U.S. administration.

"Some changes will certainly take place, but how big they are will depend on who wins the election," the minister concluded.

His cabinet and party colleague Božidar Đelić, meanwhile, currently in France, said that Serbia must develop bilateral ties with the United States, "as the world's biggest superpower", regardless of who wins in the final of the presidential race today.

Asked whether the ballot's outcome will affect Washington's policy toward Serbia, Đelić said that "America is a superpower that does not change its policy overnight", but added it is "hard to imagine an administration favoring Serbia less that the current one".

"No change"

But U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter told the 8th Serbia Economic Summit in Belgrade that today's U.S. presidential elections will not have any bearing on America's position toward "Kosovo, Serbia", or the Western Balkans.

"There is a consensus among presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama to continue with the present policy toward the Western Balkans," he was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

"We believe that the status of Kosovo has been determined and we hope for the success of the state of Kosovo, as well as the success of Serbia, in their European integrations," said Munter.

"We support both countries and a reconciliation of all the countries in the region. The results will certainly change the atmosphere, whoever gets elected, but the essence will remain the same," the ambassador was confident.