Tomislav Nikolic

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has decided to run for president again, Belgrade media report.

The decision was voiced at the celebration of Nikolic's 65th birthday on February 15, Belgrade-based N1 TV channel said late on Wednesday.

No official confirmation of the Serbian media reports on Nikolic's decision to run for second term has been given so far.

Media in Serbia reported that President Tomislav Nikolic made the decision for run for another term late on Wednesday despite the fact that the leadership of his Progressive Party has already proposed party chief and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic as its candidate for the upcoming presidential elections.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has decided to run for another term this spring, Serbian and international media report.

His office has neither confirmed nor denied, according to Tanjug agency.

B92 radio quotes Spintnik News and N1 channel as saying the decision was taken as he was celebrating his 65th birthday.

Tomislav Nikolic said Wednesday he was "not surprised" by yesterday's decision of the SNS Presidency to nominate Aleksandar Vucic as its presidential candidate.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will be the ruling party's presidential candidate this march.

The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) backed his bid "unanimously", B92 radio quotes Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic as saying.

Vucic became the immediate favourite to win the Serbian presidency after the Progressive Party leadership named him as its favoured candidate on Tuesday.

In an interview with public broadcaster RTS after the decision was announced, Vucic portrayed himself as the candidate who could save the country from destruction by the opposition.

BELGRADE - Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has become single candidate from the Serbian Progressive Party for the presidential election due in April, Minister of Internal Affairs Nebojsa Stefanovic has told reporters.

"Vucic, unanimously," the minister told reporters after a party session. Vucic himself has declined to answer the questions, saying he will make a statement later.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulates Serbia's upcoming Statehood Day holiday to his Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic.

Putin also wished a happy birthday to Nikolic, the Serbian president's press service announced on Monday.

BELGRADE - Keeping Kosovo-Metohija a top priority of the UN is very important for maintaining stability and preventing certain situations from escalating into crises, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said at a meeting with UN Mission in Kosovo head Zahir Tanin on Thursday.

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic received Madagascar's Parliament Speaker Jean-Max Rakotomamonjy in Belgrade on Wednesday.

Parliamentary cooperation is very important and it contributes to expanding overall bilateral relations, a statement from Nikolic's presidential press office quoted him as saying.

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