Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

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
Email

(Newser) – 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.

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 results that Radical Party leader Tomislav Nikolic had received about...
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...   (Associated Press)
Ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party leader Tomislav Nikolic cuts the cake in his headquarters, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, after he received about 39 percent of the first-round vote, compared with incumbent current Serbia's President Boris Tadic's 35 percent. Nikolic, an ally of late autocrat Slobodan Milosevic edged ahead of the pro-Western...
Ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party leader Tomislav Nikolic cuts the cake in his headquarters, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, after he received about 39 percent of the first-round vote, compared with incumbent...   (Associated Press)
Ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party leader Tomislav Nikolic addresses media in his headquarters, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, after he had received a predicted 39 percent of the first-round vote, compared with incumbent current Serbia's President Boris Tadic's 35 percent. Nikolic, an ally of late autocrat Slobodan Milosevic edged ahead of the...
Ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party leader Tomislav Nikolic addresses media in his headquarters, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, after he had received a predicted 39 percent of the first-round vote, compared...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Run-off to decide Serbian election
Reuters

 
Russia • Serbia • European Union • Kosovo • Balkans • Kosovar independence • Tomislav Nikolic • Boris Tadic • Vojislav Kostunica

More Newser Stories

EU Strikes Deal to End Russian Gas Freeze

Pro-West Bloc Claims Win in Serbia

Kosovo Eager for Freedom's Ring

UN Cop Killed in Kosovo Riots

Serbs Storm UN's Kosovo Courthouse
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne