(ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, MAY 17 - Boris Tadic and Tomislav
Nikolic, the two candidates in the second round of the
presidential elections held this Sunday in Serbia, faced each
other yesterday evening in a heated television debate in which
harsh words were used. The outgoing president Tadic appears to
be the clear winner of the debate.
Tadic in fact looked calmer and more certain of himself, more
like a statesman. He explained precisely what his government has
done in the field of economic, social and foreign policies,
without responding to the accusations and provocations from the
side of Nikolic, whose main role in the debate was to call Tadic
a liar, disputing all claims made by his rival without making
any precise political and economic proposals himself.
''Today Serbia is a growing country with international
credibility, no longer isolated but respected by the world, with
a clear prospect of European integration. Serbia has managed to
attract important foreign investments to create new jobs,'' said
Tadic, who mentioned the important Italian investments made in
the country by Fiat, Benetton and the Danieli project. ''Our
priority is to join the European Union, but that will not keep
us from talking and doing business with other countries,'' Tadic
continued. He listed Italy, Russia, China, France and Spain as
countries with which Serbia has closed strategic partnership
deals.
The outgoing president also gave an overview of all the
successes booked by his government, from the reforms for EU
accession to the liberalisation of visas, from the dialogue with
Kosovo to the arrest of war criminals, as well as the
substantial foreign investments that have been made in the
country.
''In reality his many foreign trips have not done much for
the country,'' responded Nikolic, who criticised Tadic also on
the way he has handled the Kosovo question, an issue that has
remained in the shadow of the electoral campaign. The
conservative leader in fact accused the outgoing president of
closing a deal for the future government with the
liberal-democrat Cedomir Jovanovic, the only Serbian politician
who supports Kosovo's independence. Tadic on the other hand
threw back that Nikolic has changed his position on the Eu and
on Serbia's European future, signing an agreement with the party
of Vojislav Kostunica (former conservative premier), who is
openly against joining the EU. ''This confirms that you continue
to change your views and that you are not a reliable and
credible person,'' he told Nikolic, who kept saying during the
electoral campaign that is in favour of Serbia joining the
European Union.
The duel ended with a call to all voters by both candidates.
Nikolic asked people to ''punish Tadic for his lies and false promises,'' while Tadic, more relaxed, asked the viewers to make May 20 ''a celebration of democracy,'' voting for the continuation of reforms and for Serbia's European prospect. ''I don't want to say bad things about my rival or ask people to punish him. I am willing to work together with Nikolic as well,'' Tadic concluded. (ANSAmed).
Nikolic asked people to ''punish Tadic for his lies and false promises,'' while Tadic, more relaxed, asked the viewers to make May 20 ''a celebration of democracy,'' voting for the continuation of reforms and for Serbia's European prospect. ''I don't want to say bad things about my rival or ask people to punish him. I am willing to work together with Nikolic as well,'' Tadic concluded. (ANSAmed).
