Reelected Serbian President Boris Tadic was sworn in Friday, vowing to try his utmost to preserve territorial sovereignty and integrity as Kosovo edges toward declaring independence.
Tadic took the oath by reading and signing the text from the new Serbian Constitution. This was followed by the national anthem, the official Tanjug news agency reported.
"I swear that I will invest all my efforts in the preservation of sovereignty and integrity of the territory of the Republic of Serbia, including Kosovo-Metohija as its integral part," Tadic said.
He also pledged "the realization of human and minority rights and freedoms, observation and defense of the Constitution and laws, preservation of peace and welfare of all Serbian citizens."
"I will fulfill all my duties conscientiously and responsibly," he said in his oath.
Tadic won 50.57 percent of votes in the tightly-contested presidential run-off on Feb. 3, defeating his rival Tomislav Nikolic who scored 47.71 percent of votes. This is his second term as president.
But the impending Kosovo independence was the first test of his political will.
Although Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci still declined to announce the exact date for the declaration of independence, it is widely anticipated that the Kosovo parliament will adopt a statement of intent to proclaim independence Sunday.
"Kosovo has its own agenda, and we will be keeping to that agenda," Thaci said Friday at a televised news conference in the Kosovo capital Pristina.
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic Thursday appealed to all UN member countries to oppose Kosovo independence.
"Let me be very clear. The Republic of Serbia shall never accept any violation of its territorial integrity. We shall never recognize Kosovo's independence. We shall not waiver; we shall not yield, should this cowardly act proceed unchecked. Not now. Not in a year. Not in a decade. Never. For Kosovo and Metohija shall remain a part of Serbia forever," Jeremic said.
Source:Xinhua
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