Serbia’s interests come first, president says

I will give a mandate for the forming of the government to the person who first shows evidence that they have a majority, President-elect Tomislav Nikolic says. He told daily Vecernje novosti that he would inform Serbian citizens about all the things that the regime had been hiding from them. Serbia’s interests come first, president says “Only peaceful, stable and united Serbia can move forward. That is why the state’s interests will come first in possible cohabitation with political opponents. I want all people, regardless of their political beliefs, to see me as their president” Nikolic told the daily. He noted that he and Democratic Party (DS) leader and candidate for PM Boris Tadic agreed during the first meeting “that the common thing in a possible cohabitation and work will be our people’s interest”. When asked whether he would suggest stopping the EU integration process if Brussels requested from Serbia to establish some kind of diplomatic relations with Kosovo for the sake of further progress in the EU integration, Nikolic said: “The EU is a pathway that represents the future and we have a constitutional obligation to preserve Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia. We will look for a safe path for our Serbia in this narrow maneuvering space.” “I want good relations in the region and I am not interested in witch-hunts that somebody is organizing because of the internal political situation. I want good relations with (Croatia’s) President Ivo Josipovic and I am convinced that both of us will find the right way to protect interests of the Serbian and Croatian people in both states,” the newly elected president added, commenting on the fact that his election victory was discussed at the NATO Summit in Chicago. When asked whether he would use his position to keep the country away from NATO, bearing in mind that he opposed Serbia’s NATO accession, Nikolic said: “I stress, for who knows which time, that I will not abuse my position. Ever. I repeat, Serbia is a military neutral country. I have no information that NATO membership is a precondition for the EU”. Tomislav Nikolic (Beta, file) Vecernje novosti

Serbia’s interests come first, president says

“Only peaceful, stable and united Serbia can move forward. That is why the state’s interests will come first in possible cohabitation with political opponents. I want all people, regardless of their political beliefs, to see me as their president” Nikolić told the daily.

He noted that he and Democratic Party (DS) leader and candidate for PM Boris Tadić agreed during the first meeting “that the common thing in a possible cohabitation and work will be our people’s interest”.

When asked whether he would suggest stopping the EU integration process if Brussels requested from Serbia to establish some kind of diplomatic relations with Kosovo for the sake of further progress in the EU integration, Nikolić said:

“The EU is a pathway that represents the future and we have a constitutional obligation to preserve Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia. We will look for a safe path for our Serbia in this narrow maneuvering space.”

“I want good relations in the region and I am not interested in witch-hunts that somebody is organizing because of the internal political situation. I want good relations with (Croatia’s) President Ivo Josipović and I am convinced that both of us will find the right way to protect interests of the Serbian and Croatian people in both states,” the newly elected president added, commenting on the fact that his election victory was discussed at the NATO Summit in Chicago.

When asked whether he would use his position to keep the country away from NATO, bearing in mind that he opposed Serbia’s NATO accession, Nikolić said:

“I stress, for who knows which time, that I will not abuse my position. Ever. I repeat, Serbia is a military neutral country. I have no information that NATO membership is a precondition for the EU”.