Byzantine Blog

Boris Gump's Dirty Tricks: Empty Promises and Exploitation of his People's Fears

“[...] Nikolic looked tired during a TV debate with Tadic on January 30 (he literally came to the TV station from the airport after his Moscow tour), and Tadic appeared nervous. He said that Serbia's joining the EU is necessary to improve the population's living conditions, and that the country's progress towards the EU depends on the Serbs' ability to act as Europeans do.

“He also kept telling that Serbia can face isolation and sanctions in case Nikolic is elected. Tadic charged the Radicals with attempting to bring Seselj to power in Serbia (Nikolic replied that it was mean to attack the man who has been in jail for 5 years waiting to stand trial while it could not begin due to the total lack of evidence against him).

“Then Tadic reiterated his ritual promises that life in Serbia is going to be great in case he gets re-elected. He never explained why this had not happen during his past presidential term.

“Obviously, Tadic's deeply immoral strategy is to exploit the fears of the population, which has suffered sanctions and bombings, that the same might happen again. He is unable to suggest an adequate response to the challenges Serbia is facing.”

Nikolic: Both West and East, with Serbia Retaining its Dignity and Independence

“Nikolic criticized the current Serbian authority for the high level of corruption and for ignoring national interests, and pointed to the numerous opportunities for cooperating with Russia which he discussed during his visit to Moscow.

“He stressed that the question “Russia or Europe” was ill-posed. Nikolic said it should be both Russia and Europe, but Serbia should remain in its legitimate borders, as a sovereign and independent state dealing with other countries as an equal.”

From Anna Filimonova's analysis, Strategic Culture Foundation

Nikolic's Sincerity and Honesty Well Known and Appreciated

In Moscow, Tomislav Nikolic was received by Russia's Deputy Prime Minister and the Chairman of Gazprom's Board of Directors, expected to replace President Vladimir Putin at the helm of Russian Federation this year, Dmitry Medvedev, who showed keen awareness of the respect and sincerity with which Tomislav Nikolic and his supporters approach Russia:

“We know that you are a staunch supporter of the development of friendly relations between Russia and Serbia,” Medvedev told Nikolic, who won the first round of the presidential elections in Serbia held on January 20. “Many positive events have taken place of late, including in the sphere of economic cooperation. Agreements on the development of cooperation in the oil and gas sphere were signed.”

Medvedev, whom President Vladimir Putin has chosen as his candidate in the March 2 presidential election, assured Nikolic that Russia would not change its position on southern Serbian province of Kosovo-Metohija, that it would respect Serbia’s borders as recognized by the UN, stressing that no border changes in Serbia could pass through the United Nations, regardless of the pressure being exerted in other parts of the world.

Nikolic thanked his host: “We have come to express gratitude for the support given by Russia to Serbia, which is working for the preservation of Kosovo as part of its territory, for the preservation of principles of the UN Charter and of the world order, in which the imposed redrawing of the borders is impermissible,” he said.

Russian Duma: Nikolic Represents Serbs who Respect Serbia's Sovereignty and Russian Support

Tomislav Nikolic was equally warmly received by the Russian State Duma speaker Boris Gryzlov. During their meeting, Serbian province of Kosovo-Metohija and the elections were central issues, according to the Itar-Tass.

“We’re very pleased that Mr. Nikolic represents those Serbians who respect Serbia’s sovereignty and don’t forget to maintain warm and close relations with Russia,” Boris Gryzlov told reporters after the meeting with Serbia's presidential candidate.

A delegation of the Russian State Duma is going to Serbia to observe the second round of presidential election on February 3, delegation chief Konstantin Zatulin told Itar-Tass today. Voicing hope for fair elections, Mr. Zatulin assessed that the final face-off between the Yellow Camp incumbent, Boris Tadic, and the blue team's challenger, Mr. Nikolic, "will be tight this time.”