Slobodan Milosevic’s former spokesman became Serbia’s new prime minister today, promising to promote reconciliation in the Balkans after his nomination triggered fears of resurgent nationalism in the volatile region.

As Serbia’s parliament prepared to elect Ivica Dacic as prime minister, the former wartime spokesman for Slobodan Milosevic tried to dispel concern that his government could push this country back into the nationalism of the late strongman’s era.