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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia-EU negotiations are of interest for both sides

Belgrade, 6 July 2006

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said that in a meeting today he informed EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn on the Serbian government’s action plan for implementing full cooperation with the Hague tribunal.

Olli Rehn and Vojislav Kostunica in a press conference

In a press statement after meeting with Rehn, Kostunica said that the Serbian government will prepare a draft action plan by June 16 with all measures, cooperation of intelligence services and address the public in order to carry out full cooperation with the tribunal at The Hague.

In that regard, we exchanged experiences with Croatia that also had such a plan which successfully ended its cooperation with the tribunal, Kostunica said and added that the Hague tribunal will be consulted as well.

He also noted that these measures mean certain institutional and organisational changes in Serbian intelligence services.

Kostunica said that he and Rehn agreed that continuation of negotiations between Serbia and the EU are of interest to both sides and that both sides are willing to continue talks.

They also agreed that it is necessary that Serbia continues its road to the EU and that the talks are resumed in a cooperative and partnership like spirit, as all our negotiations in Europe were since autumn 2000, the Serbian Prime Minister said.

He also said that there are some issues that need to be resolved and added that some forms of cooperation will continue regardless of the political part of talks, such as the Advanced Standing Dialogue on July 26.

Kostunica informed Rehn on changes in the Serbian negotiating team as the head of the team will be Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ivana Dulic-Markovic and also presented him with activities planned by the Serbian government’s EU Integration Office.

He also presented Rehn the progress of Kosovo-Metohija status talks in Vienna and informed him on the government’s platform which was presented to the Contact Group and which will also be presented in Washington.

Rehn said that he informed Kostunica that the European Commission adopted today a modified draft of the negotiations mandate for negotiations on Serbia’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU, noting that Finland as presiding country after the summer break will make efforts so that this draft is adopted sooner.

According to Rehn, the adoption of this draft will make it possible for SAA negotiations to continue once full cooperation with The Hague is carried out and Ratko Mladic be arrested.

Rehn informed Kostunica on perspectives for relaxing the visa regime for Serbia’s youth and promised that Finland will advocate for relaxing the visa regime.

Rehn hailed the government’s action plan but noted that action is what matters. He also said that this plan will be an important tool for carrying out full cooperation with the tribunal.