In a February 3 presidential run-off, Boris Tadic, to-date president of Serbia, scored a narrow victory against hardline nationalist Tomislav Nikolic, international media reported on February 4.

Tadic won 50.57 per cent of the vote and Nikolic 47.71 per cent on count of 99 per cent of cast ballots. The winning margin is slimmer than in 2004 when Tadic won by nine percentage points and underpins the divide between nationalism and pragmatism in Serbia.

Analysts interpreted the result as a repeat of Serbia’s choice for pro-Western reform and its pro-European orientation. The slim victory, nonetheless, will test the tenacity of the coalition government of Vojislav Kostunica.

Kostunica is yet to congratulate Tadic on his victory.

The European Union, and Germany and France, in particular, welcomed pro-Western Tadic’s re-election, which attested of Serbia’s ambition to join the Community and that it did not curb the West in a bid to revenge Kosovo’s independence.

Paris also said Serbia and the EU were likely to sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement as early as Thursday. The document is seen as the first step toward start of pre-accession talks.

Russia is yet to come with a statement at the highest level. Mikhail Margelov, the head of the Russian upper house international committee, reiterated the country’s stance prior to elections: “Russia believes any decision on the territory’s status made without the UN Security Council will be illegal and will serve as a destroying precedent.”

The win of Tadic also served as signal for Kosovo premier Hashim Thaci to come with an announcement that the Serbian breakaway province was ready to declare independence.