Q:
A:
France strongly supports accelerated European integration for Serbia
Belgrade/Paris,
23 January 2008
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said today that France strongly supports accelerating the process of European integration in Serbia, as well as the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the EU on January 28.
Vuk Jeremic, left, and Bernard Kouchner
Author:
Tanjug
Addressing the press after meeting with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner in Paris, Jeremic said that Serbia and the entire West Balkans have clear, undivided, firm and unconditional support from France for accelerating the process of European integration.
He said that France supports the signing of the SAA at the meeting of EU foreign ministers to be held on January 28, but there is a possibility that it may not be signed since there is no consensus in the EU regarding this question yet.
According to Jeremic, France will do everything in its power to facilitate the signing of the SAA on January 28, but if the agreement is not signed on that date, it will be signed at the next EU ministerial meeting.
Jeremic also presented Serbia’s official position on the issue of Kosovo-Metohija. Serbia does not accept an imposed solution; a solution which violates international law. He reiterated that Serbia is ready to find a solution based on compromise by continuing peaceful and diplomatic dialogue on the status issue.
Kouchner, whose country supports termination of negotiations and independence for the southern Serbian province, said little on the subject and did not want to go into details, but he did express concern for Serbia’s European integration, said Jeremic.
Jeremic also conveyed that Kouchner said that safeguarding political, institutional and security conditions in the region which are required for continuing the process of European integration in the West Balkans is of absolute importance, and part of this process is finding a solution for the issue of the future status of Kosovo-Metohija.
Jeremic spoke to his French counterpart about the question of sending an EU mission to Kosovo-Metohija, and said that in order to be legitimate, such a decision must be approved by the Security Council.
We are ready to discuss this in the Security Council, and to continue status talks to reach an all inclusive solution, and this requires a new form of international presence, said Jeremic.
According to Jeremic, sending a mission to Kosovo-Metohija is the best way in which Europe could take adequate action, but this must be in accordance with international law, which means that the Security Council must make a new decision.
Jeremic will also meet with the French President’s diplomatic advisor Jean-David Levitte today, during his one-day visit to France.
He said that France supports the signing of the SAA at the meeting of EU foreign ministers to be held on January 28, but there is a possibility that it may not be signed since there is no consensus in the EU regarding this question yet.
According to Jeremic, France will do everything in its power to facilitate the signing of the SAA on January 28, but if the agreement is not signed on that date, it will be signed at the next EU ministerial meeting.
Jeremic also presented Serbia’s official position on the issue of Kosovo-Metohija. Serbia does not accept an imposed solution; a solution which violates international law. He reiterated that Serbia is ready to find a solution based on compromise by continuing peaceful and diplomatic dialogue on the status issue.
Kouchner, whose country supports termination of negotiations and independence for the southern Serbian province, said little on the subject and did not want to go into details, but he did express concern for Serbia’s European integration, said Jeremic.
Jeremic also conveyed that Kouchner said that safeguarding political, institutional and security conditions in the region which are required for continuing the process of European integration in the West Balkans is of absolute importance, and part of this process is finding a solution for the issue of the future status of Kosovo-Metohija.
Jeremic spoke to his French counterpart about the question of sending an EU mission to Kosovo-Metohija, and said that in order to be legitimate, such a decision must be approved by the Security Council.
We are ready to discuss this in the Security Council, and to continue status talks to reach an all inclusive solution, and this requires a new form of international presence, said Jeremic.
According to Jeremic, sending a mission to Kosovo-Metohija is the best way in which Europe could take adequate action, but this must be in accordance with international law, which means that the Security Council must make a new decision.
Jeremic will also meet with the French President’s diplomatic advisor Jean-David Levitte today, during his one-day visit to France.
-
Belgrade/New York, 9 April 2026Serbia remains committed to dialogue, peace, respect for international law
-
Belgrade, 8 April 2026Serbia remains firmly committed to strengthening cooperation in region
-
Belgrade, 7 April 2026Serbia’s infrastructure, economic development through partnership with China
-
Belgrade, 6 April 2026Anniversary of 1941 bombing of Belgrade marked
-
Belgrade, 2 April 2026Serbian Army remains committed to UNIFIL tasks
-
Belgrade, 2 April 2026Switzerland’s financial support for reform processes in Serbia
-
Belgrade, 30 March 2026Cooperation with Russia, Belarus in areas of mutual interest
-
Belgrade, 27 March 2026World Bank support for implementation of priority energy projects
-
Belgrade, 27 March 2026Continued cooperation with Germany on utility infrastructure projects
-
Belgrade, 26 March 2026Activities of state institutions for opening clusters 2 and 5 examined