The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Dr Oliver Dulic, convened the First Special Sitting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia in 2008, for Friday, 15 February 2008, beginning at 1 p.m.

At the sitting, the President of the Republic, Boris Tadic, elected in the elections conducted on 20 January, 3 and 12 February 2008, took the oath of office before the National Assembly according to article 114 paragraph 3 of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia.

At the beginning of the sitting, the Speaker of the National Assembly extended congratulations to all the citizens and soldiers on 15 February – National Day and the Day of the Serbian Armed Forces and to all Orthodox believers on the day of the Visitation of the Virgin – Sretenje.

In addition to the Members of Parliament, the ceremonial sitting held at the House of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, was attended by the President of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Dr Vojislav Kostunica, Vice-President of the Government, Bozidar Djelic, Ministers of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Army, representatives of the Serbian Constitutional and Supreme Court, Governor of the National Bank, Ombudsman, Trustee for Information of Public Importance, President of the Council of the State Audit Institution, President and members of the Republic Electoral Commission, President of SASA, University Rectors, representatives of traditional churches and religious communities, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps.

Speaker Dulic informed the National Assembly that the Republic Electoral Commission submitted a Report on the conducted elections for the President of the Republic, held on 20 January, 3 and 12 February 2008. The Republic Electoral Commission ascertained that Boris Tadic was elected President of the Republic in accordance with article 21 paragraph 1 of the Law on the Election of the President of the Republic thus creating the conditions for the President of the Republic to take the oath of office before the National Assembly.

The newly elected President took the oath of office before the National Assembly, reading and signing the text determined by the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia: “I solemnly swear that I will devote all my efforts to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia, including Kosovo and Metohia as its constituent part, as well as to relise human and minority rights and freedoms and defend the Constitution and Law, preserve the peace and well-being of all the citizens of the Republic of Serbia and that I will fulfill all my duties conscientiously and responsibly.”

The signing of the oath was followed by a performance of the national anthem of the Republic of Serbia, “Boze pravde” (“God of Justice”).

Addressing all present, the elected President of the Republic, Boris Tadic, stated:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, respected members of parliament, your excellences, by electing the President, Serbia has concluded the process of constitution of state institutions, following the adoption of the new Constitution of the Republic of Serbia. All state institutions, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, the Government of Serbia and the President of the Republic, are the basis of the stability of the country. We must all work at full capacity without abeyance.

Respected members of parliament, it is our great responsibility to protect the interests of Serbian citizens, the country’s economic development, European perspective and preserve Serbia’s sovereignty and integrity. These are our most important tasks. The citizens rightfully expect us to work for their benefit. That is why they have elected us to these responsible functions. By voting, the citizens have set the goal.

It is important that we stand united in all key questions, but this unity should not be the goal in itself. The goal is to carry out the programme for which the citizens have voted, and they have voted for Serbia to be strong and stable, economically prosperous and a respected member of the European Union.

I want to clearly confirm in front of this House of the National Assembly that I will never give up fighting for our Kosovo and I will, with all my might, fight for Serbia to join the European Union”, Boris Tadic concluded.