Serbia’s Vuk Jeremic has urged EU to ink a trade accord with Belgrade before the end of January.

The Foreign Minister has also said it could affect the result of presidential elections marking western-oriented reformers against the pro-Russian nationalists.

Vuk Jeremic explained that elections indicated a dead heat between the incumbent Boris Tadic, of the Democratic party, and Tomislav Nokilic, of the ultra-nationalist Radical Party.

After the January 20 polls, both Tadic and Nokilic are expected to compete in a run-off on February 3.

“Progress would show that European membership is not a dream but a reality. When you are in a dead heat the result is sensitive to the smallest shift,” Jeremic said.

On January 28, the EU foreign ministers would meet to discuss inking with Serbia a trade agreement, the first step to the EU membership.

Serbia has claimed that it has satisfied the precondition of co-operating with the United Nations war crimes tribunal in the Hague.