Q:
A:
EU accession – Serbian government’s strategic priority
Bled,
27 August 2007
Serbian Minister of Interior Vuk Jeremic stated today that the Serbian government’s strategic priority is to speed up Serbia’s EU accession process.
Vuk Jeremic
Author:
Tanjug
Speaking at the Strategic Forum in Bled, themed “European Union 2020 – Enlarging and Integrating “, Jeremic said that EU accession is a joint goal of all nations and countries in the region and added that Serbia places a good deal of hope in Slovenia’s EU presidency.
According to Jeremic, the path that began in 2003 in Thessaloniki, when the future of the Balkans within the EU was clearly stated, should now be moved on to the next level during Slovenia’s presidency.
Jeremic said that the world is now undergoing a moment which requires courage and vision because a new leadership is emerging in Europe, elections in Moscow and Washington will be held in the upcoming 18 months, NATO is facing serious challenges in Afghanistan, the political outcome in the Middle East is uncertain and unfinished issues remain in the Balkans.
All the while, 20 million people in this region are waiting for a signal: will everything remain the same or will more countries receive encouragement for EU membership. “By re-confirming our devotion and by doubling our efforts, we can all work together to create a Europe which is truly whole, permanently free and forever calm”, added Jeremic.
Whilst in Bled, Jeremic also met with Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Alexander Vondra and Bosnia and Herzegovina Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Alkalaj.
Jeremic said he discussed Serbia’s EU future with Vondra, adding that the Czech Republic fully supports Serbia’s EU accession.
According to Jeremic, their meeting also concerned the status of Kosovo-Metohija, during which Jeremic voiced belief in the attainability of a compromise solution on condition that the international community, represented by the Contact Group, begins channeling the negotiating parties in that direction.
This has not been the case so far because Ahtisaari believed only in a solution leading to the province’s independence, explained Jeremic.
According to Minister Jeremic, Serbia’s stance was fully backed by his Czech counterpart.
An imposed solution, which the EU advocated, is not the way to a stable Balkans said Jeremic and added that the Bled forum will be dedicated to the issue of stability in the Balkans.
Jeremic said that at the meeting with the Bosnia and Herzegovina Minister of Foreign Affairs they talked about bilateral relations and political reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Minister Sven Alkalaj will visit Belgrade on an official visit next week, said Jeremic adding that they discussed the possibility that the three members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina presidency also visit the Serbian capital.
During his stay in Bled, Jeremic will hold separate bilateral meetings with Montenegrin foreign minister Milan Rocen, Swedish Carl Bildt, Slovenian Dimitri Rupel, and Hungarian Kinga Göncz as well as meet with envoy of the European Parliament Doris Pak.
The forum, taking place as four panel discussions and two round table ones, is attended by over 400 government representatives, foreign ministers, EU representatives, leading representatives of the private sector and NGOs.
The Bled Forum is organised by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for European Perspective.
The host, Slovenia, will take over the EU’s rotating presidency in the beginning of 2008.
According to Jeremic, the path that began in 2003 in Thessaloniki, when the future of the Balkans within the EU was clearly stated, should now be moved on to the next level during Slovenia’s presidency.
Jeremic said that the world is now undergoing a moment which requires courage and vision because a new leadership is emerging in Europe, elections in Moscow and Washington will be held in the upcoming 18 months, NATO is facing serious challenges in Afghanistan, the political outcome in the Middle East is uncertain and unfinished issues remain in the Balkans.
All the while, 20 million people in this region are waiting for a signal: will everything remain the same or will more countries receive encouragement for EU membership. “By re-confirming our devotion and by doubling our efforts, we can all work together to create a Europe which is truly whole, permanently free and forever calm”, added Jeremic.
Whilst in Bled, Jeremic also met with Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Alexander Vondra and Bosnia and Herzegovina Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Alkalaj.
Jeremic said he discussed Serbia’s EU future with Vondra, adding that the Czech Republic fully supports Serbia’s EU accession.
According to Jeremic, their meeting also concerned the status of Kosovo-Metohija, during which Jeremic voiced belief in the attainability of a compromise solution on condition that the international community, represented by the Contact Group, begins channeling the negotiating parties in that direction.
This has not been the case so far because Ahtisaari believed only in a solution leading to the province’s independence, explained Jeremic.
According to Minister Jeremic, Serbia’s stance was fully backed by his Czech counterpart.
An imposed solution, which the EU advocated, is not the way to a stable Balkans said Jeremic and added that the Bled forum will be dedicated to the issue of stability in the Balkans.
Jeremic said that at the meeting with the Bosnia and Herzegovina Minister of Foreign Affairs they talked about bilateral relations and political reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Minister Sven Alkalaj will visit Belgrade on an official visit next week, said Jeremic adding that they discussed the possibility that the three members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina presidency also visit the Serbian capital.
During his stay in Bled, Jeremic will hold separate bilateral meetings with Montenegrin foreign minister Milan Rocen, Swedish Carl Bildt, Slovenian Dimitri Rupel, and Hungarian Kinga Göncz as well as meet with envoy of the European Parliament Doris Pak.
The forum, taking place as four panel discussions and two round table ones, is attended by over 400 government representatives, foreign ministers, EU representatives, leading representatives of the private sector and NGOs.
The Bled Forum is organised by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for European Perspective.
The host, Slovenia, will take over the EU’s rotating presidency in the beginning of 2008.
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