Serbia's President Boris Tadic formally inaugurated

(15 Feb 2008) SHOTLIST
1. Exterior of Serbian parliament building
2. Serbian flag outside parliament
3. Guard of honour outside parliament
4. US ambassador to Serbia, Cameron Munter, arriving
5. Serbian President, Boris Tadic, arriving and being greeted by parliamentary speaker
6. Tilt down of parliament
7. Serbian Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica walking across parliament floor
8. Applause, Tadic walking across parliament floor and shakes hands with defeated rival Tomislav Nikolic before approaching podium
9. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Boris Tadic, Serbian President:
"I swear that I will make every effort to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, including Kosovo and Metohija as a part of Serbia. I will uphold human rights, minority rights and freedom, and I will fight for the preservation of the constitution and the law for the entire nation. I will conscientiously do my duty." (Applause, pan from Tadic to wide of parliament)
10. Tadic and lawmakers listening to Serbian national anthem
11. Tadic shaking hands with Nikolic and the secretary of Serbian Radical Party, Alexandar Vucic
STORYLINE
Serbia's newly re-elected president, Boris Tadic, was formally sworn in on Friday for a new, five-year term in office.
Tadic was inaugurated at a ceremonial session of parliament in Belgrade, attended by top officials, diplomats, Serbian Orthodox Church dignitaries and other prominent public figures.
He had narrowly won a February 3 runoff against his ultra-nationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic.
The vote was seen as crucial for Serbia's future, offering a choice between Tadic's pro-Western policies and Nikolic's pro-Russian nationalism.
As he walked to the podium in parliament, Tadic stopped to shake hands with Nikolic.
In his oath before the Serbian deputies Tadic swore to "make every effort to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, including Kosovo and Metohija as a part of Serbia."
Tadic begins his new term at a sensitive time, as the Balkan country faces the possible loss of the province of Kosovo, Serbia's medieval heartland now dominated by separatist ethnic Albanians.
Kosovo's Albanian leadership is planning to unilaterally declare independence within days.
Belgrade has vowed never to accept Kosovo's statehood.

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