Posted on 07/11/2004 8:00:17 AM PDT by nuconvert
Serbia's First Democratic President Takes Office
Katarina Kratovac/Associated Press
BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro (AP) - Serbia's first pro-democracy president since World War II took office Sunday, vowing to bring stability to the Balkan republic and push it closer to the European Union and NATO. Boris Tadic, 46, leader of opposition Democratic Party, was elected in a June 27 runoff, defeating a hard-line nationalist ally of former President Slobodan Milosevic.
Although the office is mostly ceremonial, Tadic's election was seen as a signal of Serbs' desires to more closely align with the EU and NATO and to move away from the nationalist isolation of Milosevic's autocratic legacy.
Taking his oath of office in the Serbian parliament Sunday, Tadic said the republic's leaders "must know our national priorities: they are our intentions to join the European Union, to provide a better life for our people."
"The stability of this society is the best guarantee for its prosperity," Tadic said, promising to "be the president of all of Serbia's citizens."
After being sworn-in to applause and hand shakes from well-wishers, Tadic crossed the street to Serbia's presidential offices, striding past an honor guard.
Delegations from 40 nations attended the ceremony, including the foreign ministers of Austria, Greece and Slovakia, as well as defense ministers of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Romania.
Also there were Erhard Busek, the head of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe, Adm. Gregory Johnson, the region's NATO commander, top officials from Montenegro, Serbia's partner republic and religious and other dignitaries from both republics.
Tadic's victory was not the first time a Serbian president was chosen in elections, but it marked the first time since World War II that Serbs elected a pro-democracy candidate.
Milosevic had held the post in the 1990s before becoming the president of Yugoslavia, which was replaced last year by Serbia-Montenegro. After Milosevic, Serbia's presidency then went to Milan Milutinovic, one of his allies. Both men are now in The Hague, Netherlands, at the U.N. war crimes tribunal to answer charges stemming from the Balkan ethnic conflicts of the 1990s.
Soft-spoken and telegenic, Tadic is also seen as the man who will carry on the reformist legacy of the late Zoran Djindjic, Serbia's first post-communist prime minister. When Djindjic was gunned down in 2003 in Belgrade, many believed it spelled doom for Serbia's fledgling democracy.
Serbia faces tough times ahead as it struggles to counter a stagnant economy and a resurgence of nationalism tolerated by some top figures in Serbia's conservative government.
The government, headed by Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, relies on the support of Milosevic's Socialists in parliament. But Tadic's win was expected to counterbalance some of the influence wielded by the Socialists.
Kostunica, who considers the U.N. war crimes tribunal anti-Serb, is nonetheless expected to now work with Tadic who is pushing for Serbia to hand over suspects. Cooperation with the U.N. tribunal is the key condition for any U.S. and other Western political and financial support.
"There has been enough of misunderstandings with the world and discord in Serbia," Tadic said at the end of the ceremony, during which he kissed the Serbian flag. "We must make big strides forward to make up for lost time."
Tadic's term is five years.
I give him six months before some nazi drills him.
Bad things happen to good people in Serbia for some reason.
I give him six months before some nazi drills him.>>>
My, oh my, such optimism.
Not optimism, not pessimism, mere familiarity with the environment. He's in my prayers... and he'll need them.
BTW
With Tadic as president, I'm curious to see how long it takes for Mladic to either turn in himself in or get caught.
One hopes, but the time is short. I pray he does, for his sake. I would not want to be him facing the Divine Judge unprepared.
BELGRADE -- Wednesday – The European Union is determined to support Serbia-Montenegro despite poor cooperation with the UN war crimes court in the Hague, the European Commission delegate in Belgrade said today.
Barrett said that the EU will not impose sanctions on Belgrade for any lack of cooperation.
However, he warned, relations with the Hague court should be stepped up in order to receive a positive report from the Commission’s feasibility study on the state’s readiness for a Stabilisation and Association agreement.
Barrett said that at the moment it was not possible for the study to be completed, adding that the most important areas still to be addressed were economic harmonisation between Serbia and Montenegro and the institutions of the federal state.
These, he said, should be completed within eighteen months.
Any new word about Mladic?
Even though his role is just ceremonial, it appears that the Serbs WANT to integrate with the rest of Europe... I wish him Godspeed.
Any new word about Mladic?
I have not heard new anything regarding Mladic over the past few days.
Mladic is a Free man...always will be,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
[Mladic is a Free man...always will be,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,]
He might very well be...
Unfortunately, Tadic will be allowing foreign agents and agencies to run unhindered/unabated throughout Serbia.
I do see some positive coming down the road.
I think that as the US military becomes more and more spread out (Iraq, Afghanastan, etc.) the West will end up having to depend on the Serb military to deal with Islamic fanaticism in the Balkans. (Which is what the West should have done in the first place.)
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