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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia-Montenegro capable of joining EU by 2012

12 April 2005

Belgrade, April 12, 2005 –Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus presented his view of the agenda for Serbia-Montenegro’s EU membership, which could be achieved by 2012, in talks with Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik today.

Ursula Plassnik, left, and Miroljub Labus

Labus told the press that the Austrian Foreign Minister assessed that this was a “very optimistic agenda”, but expressed his belief that the state leadership would be able to implement this plan.

Labus also said that this was a special day for Serbia-Montenegro as the state union received a positive assessment of the feasibility study on accession to the EU, and hence the meeting with the Austrian Foreign Minister was dedicated in large measure to Serbia-Montenegro’s EU accession.

The situation in the region and in Kosovo-Metohija as well as relations between Belgrade and Podgorica were also discussed, stated Labus and added that they agreed that all these relations must contribute to increasing stability in the region.

They concluded that there were good political, diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries and that these relations were developing in the right direction, Labus added.

He assessed that the gesture of the Austrian government to cancel visas for officials and diplomats from Serbia-Montenegro was of exceptional importance.

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik expressed satisfaction because her visit coincided with such an important occasion, as is the positive assessment of the feasibility study for Serbia-Montenegro’s EU accession.

It is vitally important that Serbia begins the harmonisation process with the EU legal framework in order to complete the association process as easily as possible, Plassnik said and added that Serbia-Montenegro can expect full support of Austria and other EU countries in the reform process that has already begun in the country. She underlined that these reforms include full cooperation with the International Criminal Court in The Hague.