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Strong support by Germany for Serbia’s EU integration
Belgrade/Brussels,
4 September 2008
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said today that Germany will give strong support to Serbia’s EU integration, including the first next step on that path, which is unblocking EU’s transitional agreement with Serbia.
Author:
Fonet/EPA
Following talks with German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier in Berlin, Jeremic said for the news agency Tanjug that the next six months are crucial in paving the way for Serbia to full EU membership.
We can count on full support by Germany that key institutional and political steps will be made during these six months which will lead us to the goal, which is achieving candidate status for full EU membership, said the Minister.
He said that there still are differences between the two countries regarding the issue of Kosovo, and added that he expressed deep regret over the fact that Germany recognised Kosovo’s illegally declared independence.
Jeremic said that he will officially acquaint functionaries in Berlin with Serbia’s initiative to seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal validity of Kosovo’s independence and conveyed Belgrade’s expectation that Germany will not oppose this initiative.
I have brought it to their attention that never in its history did Germany vote in the General Assembly against asking the ICJ for its opinion regarding any question since it supports the court as the supreme UN legal body, said the Minister.
The German government has recognised the independence of Kosovo. Serbia will never do that, said Jeremic and added that Serbia will use only diplomatic and legal means when Kosovo is in question.
Jeremic and Steinmeier also talked about the upcoming visit by Serbian President Boris Tadic to Germany at the beginning of next month.
During the meeting, Steinmeier said that Germany will continue to support Serbia in EU integration and indicated that Germany will not support Serbia’s demand to seek the ICJ’s opinion on the validity of Kosovo’s independence.
Germany will form a stance on this issue during the next few weeks, but we have recognised Kosovo’s independence and we would not have done so if we had thought that the decision was against international law, said Steinmeier.
He voiced hope that after visiting Belgrade Hague tribunal Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will confirm that Serbia is ready for full cooperation with the tribunal thus enabling EU foreign ministers to decide continuation of Serbia’s EU integration process on September 15.
We can count on full support by Germany that key institutional and political steps will be made during these six months which will lead us to the goal, which is achieving candidate status for full EU membership, said the Minister.
He said that there still are differences between the two countries regarding the issue of Kosovo, and added that he expressed deep regret over the fact that Germany recognised Kosovo’s illegally declared independence.
Jeremic said that he will officially acquaint functionaries in Berlin with Serbia’s initiative to seek the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal validity of Kosovo’s independence and conveyed Belgrade’s expectation that Germany will not oppose this initiative.
I have brought it to their attention that never in its history did Germany vote in the General Assembly against asking the ICJ for its opinion regarding any question since it supports the court as the supreme UN legal body, said the Minister.
The German government has recognised the independence of Kosovo. Serbia will never do that, said Jeremic and added that Serbia will use only diplomatic and legal means when Kosovo is in question.
Jeremic and Steinmeier also talked about the upcoming visit by Serbian President Boris Tadic to Germany at the beginning of next month.
During the meeting, Steinmeier said that Germany will continue to support Serbia in EU integration and indicated that Germany will not support Serbia’s demand to seek the ICJ’s opinion on the validity of Kosovo’s independence.
Germany will form a stance on this issue during the next few weeks, but we have recognised Kosovo’s independence and we would not have done so if we had thought that the decision was against international law, said Steinmeier.
He voiced hope that after visiting Belgrade Hague tribunal Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will confirm that Serbia is ready for full cooperation with the tribunal thus enabling EU foreign ministers to decide continuation of Serbia’s EU integration process on September 15.
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