BELGRADE, Serbia – Serbia's new nationalist president and the liberal rival likely tobe the next prime minister assured the country Monday that theycould overcome deep differences and create a stable, pro-EuropeanUnion government. Tomislav Nikolic defeated his predecessor Boris Tadic in thepresidential election earlier this month, and Nikolic's nationalistProgressive Party won the largest number of seats in the 250-memberparliament. But because Tadic's Democrats gained enough allies toform the next Cabinet, Nikolic is expected to be forced to nameTadic as premier-designate. The position of prime minister is stronger than that of thepresident, a largely ceremonial role that cannot draft laws. The two bitter political foes met Monday, a day after Tadicannounced the start of negotiations on the formation of a newgovernment that would leave Nikolic without real power. "We had very good talks," Tadic said. "This was a meeting not onlyabout the transfer of power ... but about what Serbia'sinstitutions should look like in the future." Nikolic also sounded an optimistic note. "We have one common goal and that is for Serbia to move forward sothat its citizens can live better," the president told reporters."I think that you can view Serbia's political stability in thefuture with much more optimism." Prior to losing to Nikolic in the May 20 election, Tadic served aspresident for eight years. Tadic said he would not includeNikolic's nationalists in his new government, further diminishingNikolic's role. The Progressive Party said that a future Serbiangovernment that excludes them "will have a problem withlegitimacy." Tadic has said his goals include improving living standards for theimpoverished population and fighting unemployment and corruption— problems that contributed to his loss to Nikolic. The newpresident, meanwhile, has claimed to have shifted from beingstaunchly anti-Western to pro-EU. Serbia is struggling to evade recession, create jobs and cutspending in an economy that has a 24 percent unemployment rate,falling currency and mounting foreign debt. Tadic said the post ofthe prime minister "is now a very hot seat" because these are "verychallenging times." Nikolic said Serbs will be getting a stable country that will nolonger have to choose between extreme pro-Eastern or pro-Westernoptions. "The citizens will no longer be afraid when elections come,"Nikolic said after his meeting with Tadic. "There are no more badguys in Serbia." ___ Associated Press writer Jovana Gec contributed. I am an expert from balljointbearings.com, while we provides the quality product, such as China Needle Roller Bearing , Pillow Block Bearings Manufacturer, Angular Contact Ball Bearing,and more.
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