Serbs Elect Western Oriented President

Sunday's election in Serbia of a pro-Western president could move the struggling nation closer to Europe and the United States, and could help to avert a crisis over the expected unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, Serbia's renegade province. Kosovo, which has been under the administration of the United Nations since the 1999 Balkans war, is expected to declare its separation from Serbia at any time.

In the election, pro-Western Serb President Boris Tadic defeated his opponent, Tomislav Nikolic, in what was considered to be a hotly contested race dominated by nationalist feelings and concern over the possibility of Kosovar independence. The election of Tadic is likely an indicator of Serb desires to align more closely with Europe. According to the Central Intelligence Agency's World Fact Book, the president is elected by direct vote for a five year term. President Tadic has been in office since the summer of 2004. Tadic's election, given his pro-Western stance, could also lessen the likelihood of conflict in the region if Kosovo moves ahead with its plans for independence.

Many Serbs are in favor of Serbia's membership in the European Union, and Tadic is likely to continue the country's drive for inclusion in the EU, a prospect put in danger in the event of a Kosovo-Serbia conflict. Many European nations and the United States could recognize a new Kosovar state, while Russia has stated clearly that the province should remain part of greater Serbia. Russia fears that Kosovo's independence could serve as a precedent for other break away provinces, like Chechnya, to declare their own independence. Tadic's electoral opponent, who is in favor of closer ties with Russia, is opposed to EU membership if inclusion in the union meant abandoning the Kosovo province.

In reality, Tadic is in a difficult position. His desire for EU membership could be overshadowed by domestic concern about independence for Kosovo. Tadic is opposed to Kosovar independence, as is his Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, but views EU membership as his dominant concern. Serbia is listed as a potential EU candidate country under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. In order to realize its membership goal, Serbia has to meet the EU's accession criteria. Those criteria, listed by the European Union as the "Copenhagen Criteria," include stability of democratic institutions, the rule of law, protection of minorities, a functioning market economy that can handle the EU's market pressures, and adherence to political, economic and monetary union within the EU.

Sources: CIA, European Union