"Regional leaders taking part in organized boycott"

SOURCE: TANJUG
BELGRADE -- Ivica Dačić has said that he considered the absence of some leaders from the region from the inauguration of President Tomislav Nikolić an organized boycott.

It is also an insult to Serbia, rather than Nikolić, said the leader of the Socialists (SPS) and deputy PM and interior minister in the outgoing government.

Dačić spoke on Monday and recalled that the Socialists did not support Nikolić for president, nor did he personally give him his vote, but the people of Serbia chose Nikolić and this should be respected.

"I am angered that leaders from neighboring countries are not coming to the inauguration and I see this as an organized boycott that represents their attitude toward Serbia, not its president," he said.

This is not in the spirit of European integration and reconciliation, and does not strengthen good-neighborly relations, said Dačić.

The presidents of the Serb Republic (RS) and Montenegro are the only leaders from the region attending the inauguration on Monday of the new Serbian president.