Serbia's Future Depends on Kosovo

Looming declaration of independence may sway presidential voting
By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 21, 2008 11:11 AM CST
Serbia's Future Depends on Kosovo
Serbia's President Boris Tadic speaks and gestures after the preliminary results of the first-round presidential elections vote in Belgrade, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008. Belgrade's Center for Free Elections and Democracy, which independently counted votes alongside election officials, said in preliminary...   (Associated Press)

On the verge of declaring independence, Kosovo is the key in this year’s Serbian election, the Guardian reports. Tomislav Nicolic, a Russian-aligned Serbian nationalist, won the first round of the presidential elections last night, defeating moderate incumbent Boris Tadic 39% to 35%. Seven other candidates, many pro-Western, are out of the race, which will be decided in a Feb. 3 run-off.

Vladimir Putin stopped in the Balkans Friday to reiterate Russia’s stance that a Kosovar declaration of independence would be “illegal and immoral.” The EU offered to talk about visa-free travel and a pre-membership deal in an effort to bolster Tadic’s pro-Western campaign, though he doesn’t support Kosovo's independence either. Nationalist PM Vojislav Kostunica’s endorsement may tip the vote. (More Serbia stories.)

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