Serbia to vote on Kosovo, EU
2008-03-13 13:38
Belgrade - Serbia's president dissolved the parliament on Thursday, and called early parliamentary elections following his rift with nationalists over Kosovo's independence and Serbia's European Union integration.
Boris Tadic said in a statement that the vote will be held on May 11.
"Elections are a democratic way for the citizens to determine how Serbia should develop in the years to come," Tadic said.
He added that the elections are a "new chance to strengthen ... the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, to strengthen our economic perspective through European integration ... and change things for the better".
On Saturday, nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica dissolved his government, saying his conservatives could not function in the Cabinet alongside the president's pro-Western Democrats because of their insistence on pursuing EU membership even though 18 of the bloc's 27 nations have recognised Kosovo's independence.
- AP