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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Successful start of talks between Serbia-Montenegro and EU

Belgrade, 8 November 2005

Leaders heading up the negotiating teams of both Serbia-Montenegro and the EU said yesterday that the talks on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) have successfully begun.

Author: FoNet

At a press conference, Head of the European Commission Directorate for Western Balkans and leader of the EU negotiating team Reinhard Priebe expressed satisfaction with the beginning of talks. He added that the EU representatives were glad to share the negotiating table with a delegation so well prepared.

Priebe said that the topics of the first round of talks were the preamble of the agreement, general principles, and political issues significant for Serbia-Montenegro’s relations with the EU, as well as a precise definition of certain terms and official names from the SAA.

“Undoubtedly, we will come across difficulties during the course of negotiations, but I think that we have started the talks in a friendly manner, and that we will continue them in a constructive way”, said Priebe.

Serbia-Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Draskovic voiced hope that it will not be long before the state union becomes a candidate for full EU membership.

Draskovic stressed the importance of both member states moving along the same path and in the same direction, and expressed expectation that the talks with the EU will in the future be accelerated.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Serbian negotiating team Miroljub Labus pointed out that the talks were complex and difficult, but that a good start was made.

Labus stressed that the door to the next stage of negotiations has been opened. He added that the Serbian delegation displayed effective and constructive contributions to the process.

Author: FoNet

Montenegrin Minister of International Economic Relations and European Integration and acting head of the Montenegrin negotiating team Gordana Djurovic said that the talks with EU representatives were constructive and conducted on an equal footing.

Djurovic pointed out that the member states’ individual negotiating teams showed a partner-like relationship and made efforts to reconcile their positions, adding that the “double-track framework” was fully respected.

She expressed hope that Podgorica will host the next round of negotiations, which will be devoted to economic issues.

The next round of talks, devoted to discussion of technical issues, is scheduled for December 20.