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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Safeguarding territorial integrity, EU integration among Serbia's key priorities

Brussels, 8 January 2008

Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said today in Brussels that the Serbian government’s key priorities are Serbia's EU integration and safeguarding its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Vuk Jeremic, left, and EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Javier Solana

Author: Fonet/AP

Jeremic, who is on a two-day visit to Belgium, said following a meeting with Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Karel de Gucht that he hopes the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) will soon be signed between Serbia and the EU.

The Minister pointed to the fact that fresh negotiations are needed to determine the future status of Kosovo-Metohija and to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region. He stressed that Serbia will not give up either EU integration or the right to territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Speaking about the possibility of the SAA being signed, Jeremic said that the Serbian government is fully determined to fulfill all conditions required. He added that Serbia sees fulfilling these conditions as its international obligation and a precondition for reconciliation in the West Balkans.

According to Jeremic, this means all war criminals must be apprehended and handed over to the Hague tribunal.

Speaking on sending the EU mission to Kosovo, the Minister stressed that Serbia fully supports the engagement of the Union in the province, but for the mission to arrive in the province a UN Security Council decision needs to be brought.

Jeremic told journalists that Solana conveyed to him that majority of EU members agreed with the position of Belgrade that Serbia has done everything it could to establish full cooperation with the Hague tribunal.

According to Jeremic, Solana expressed hope that consensus will be reached within the EU by January 28 allowing for the signing of SAA.

The Foreign Minister conveyed to Solana Belgrade’s position that Serbia fulfilled all terms for SAA and is hoping that the agreement will be signed on January 28 at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers. Jeremic also discussed with Solana the forming of a working group for speeding up the process of Serbia’s European integration, which would be followed by cooperation with the Hague tribunal.

I hailed such initiative, the Minister said and added that good news is that Serbia’s road to the EU is being facilitated. Jeremic will tomorrow meet with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, after which he will go on an official visit to Germany.