Serbians vote in presidential poll

[dArKeR]

REUTERS , BELGRADE

Pro-Europe reformer Boris Tadic is favorite to beat hardline nationalist Tomislav Nikolic for the presidency of Serbia yesterday, in an election seen as the most decisive since Slobodan Milosevic fell four years ago.

The outcome could help determine whether Serbia, impoverished after years of wars and sanctions under Milosevic, faces renewed international isolation or builds closer ties with the West.

Low turnout among election-weary Serbs poses the biggest threat to Tadic of the center-left Democratic Party as Nikolic's supporters are more disciplined voters, analysts said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/06/28/2003176859

[dArKeR]

1. Reformer wins Serbian presidency

AP , BELGRADE, SERBIA-MONTENEGRO

A reformist, pro-Western politician defeated a nationalist ally of former president Slobodan Milosevic in Serbia's presidential elections and pledged to take the Balkan republic closer to the EU and NATO.

Democratic Party chief Boris Tadic, 46, won 53.5 percent of votes in the Sunday ballot. Tomislav Nikolic of the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party won 45.09 percent in the election, viewed as a crossroads for Serbia.

"This means a true rebirth of Serbia ... a triumph over dark policies of the past," Tadic said, referring to the 1990s war campaigns and international isolation of Serbia during the rule of Milosevic and his Radical allies.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/06/29/2003177003

Bush was a 'reformist' too!