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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Support to professionalism and dedication of SCG in negotiations on EU accession

Belgrade/Brussels, 1 February 2006

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Serbian team for negotiations with the EU Miroljub Labus said today at the beginning of his three-day visit to Brussels that EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn praised the professionalism and competence of the Serbia-Montenegrin (SCG) team in the negotiations with the EU.

Olli Rehn, left, and Miroljub Labus

Rehn said that the successful completion of the negotiations call for full completion of all conditions and the achievement of technical progress.

Following the meeting with Rehn, Labus said that a technical round of negotiations between EU-SCG should be held on February 20 and that the purpose of his visit to Brussels is to convince the EU collocutors to continue negotiations.

He voiced hope that his visit will contribute to successful continuation of talks, and that he brought some proposals concerning the lists of agricultural products.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Olli Rehn will get detailed information on Belgrade's cooperation with the Hague tribunal when they visit Belgrade in the middle of February. He underlined that he believes that the subsequent reform on that issue will be favourable.

Labus said that some concrete measures have already been taken, such as opening archives to the investigators of the Hague tribunal and apprehension of persons who had been in contact with Hague indictees.

He announced that on February 6, Hague Prosecutor Carla del Ponte will arrive in Belgrade and that she will be briefed on the progress made in cooperation with the Hague tribunal.

Rehn praised the professionalism and dedication of the SCG team in the negotiations on EU stabilisation and association, and said that he expects the negotiations to advance quickly this year.

Rehn and Labus also touched on the issues of preparations for the Montenegro referendum, and the resolution of Kosovo's status.

The EU Enlargement Commissioner said that the negotiations between SCG and the EU are technically very good, but that it is necessary to make significant progress in the cooperation between Belgrade and the Hague tribunal so that the pace of negotiations wouldn't be disturbed.

Rehn said that following the visit of the European Commission President and himself to Belgrade in the middle of February, he will inform the EU Council of Ministers of the cooperation between Serbian authorities and the Hague tribunal.

Head of the European Parliament delegation for South East Europe Doris Pack said today following the talks with Labus that the EU should not interrupt talks with Serbia on the conclusion of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).

She said that Croatia is a good example when Hague indictee Ante Gotovina was arrested. She said that she believes Serbia will do the same when it comes to General Ratko Mladic.

She also praised the Serbian parliament because it has done a very good job in the previous few months. She expressed great satisfaction with the quality of the laws passed and the speed of their adoption, but stated that the harder part of the job comes now and that is their implementation.

Labus talked today with European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Franco Frattini.

Following talks Frattini said that he will make efforts with EU members to make the visa regime easier for students and businessmen from Serbia who wish to travel to the EU.

He said that for a more favourable visa regime for Serbia it is necessary that the Serbian government make progress in strengthening border control and the fight against organised crime.

He also said that the Serbian government has already covered a lot of ground in that area, but he stressed that he has to convince European governments that the results achieved are visible, because for EU countries political balance is very important as well greater safety and freedom of movement.

Franco Frattini, left, and Miroljub Labus

Labus said that the position of the Serbian government is that all EU demands should be fulfilled, pointing out that the same attitude must be expected from European capitals.

He said that Serbia is now waiting for nine European governments to sign or ratify the agreement on readmission with Belgrade.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that he will discuss with EU officials border control, safe passports, law on foreigners and asylum and all other questions that Serbia and EU will prepare together for the next meeting, as part of the negotiations on stabilisation and association.

During the three-day visit to Brussels Labus is scheduled to meet with European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Benita Ferrero Waldner, new Director of EU Enlargement Directorate Michael Lane and Director of the Western Balkans Directorate Reinhard Priebe.