VOA常速英语2008年-Serbian pro-Western President Defeats Ultra-nat

By Barry Wood
Belgrade
03 February 2008

Serbian pro-Western President Boris Tadic has claimed victory over his ultra-nationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic in a closely contested runoff vote. VOA's Barry Wood in Belgrade reports that amid mild and sunny weather the turnout is reported to be high.

This is a run-off election between pro-western incumbent¹ Boris Tadic and nationalist Tomislav Nikolic, the two biggest vote winners in the first round two weeks ago.

Marko Blagojevic of Belgrade's Center for Free Elections says the turnout is on track to exceed the 61 percent total from the first round.

"Belgrade obviously woke up earlier [than the rest of the country] this morning as the Belgrade turnout by 9am was higher than it was two weeks ago, while the turnout in central Serbia is lower than it was two weeks ago," said Blagojevic.

Voting is said to be brisk among minority Serbs in Kosovo, the southern etnic-Albanian majority province that is expected to soon declare its independence.

The main issue in the campaign has been Serbia's future orientation².

Mr. Nikolic, whose party was aligned³ with Slobodan Milosevic in the 1990s, favors closer ties to Russia, Serbia's main ally in opposing independence for Kosovo. Mr. Tadic similarly opposes Kosovo independence, but favors closer links with the West and rapid moves towards membership in the European Union.

Pollster Blagojevic says a spirited debate between the two candidates at the end of the campaign has ignited even more voter interest.

"People in Serbia are obviously very interested in these elections, more interested than we could have imagined they would be. And the high number who watched the [televised] duel⁴ between the candidates Thursday night is one of the reasons for this," said Blagojevic.

While most power in Serbia rests with the prime minister, the constitution gives the president control of the armed forces. With NATO in charge of security in Kosovo since 1999, close cooperation has recently been established between the regional alliance and the Serbian army. Analysts⁵ say those ties would likely be diminished if Mr. Nikolic wins the election. Both candidates say Serbia will not intervene militarily in Kosovo in the event of an independence declaration.

1 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

2 orientation   

n.方向，目标；熟悉，适应，情况介绍

参考例句：

• Children need some orientation when they go to school.小孩子上学时需要适应。
• The traveller found his orientation with the aid of a good map.旅行者借助一幅好地图得知自己的方向。

3 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。

4 duel   

n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争

参考例句：

• The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
• Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。