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Czech Republic strongly supports Serbia’s EU accession
Belgrade/Prague,
14 November 2008
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic and his Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg stated today in Prague that negotiations with Serbia on EU integration will be accelerated when the Czech Republic assumes EU presidency in the first half of 2009.
Speaking to the press after the talks in Prague, Jeremic said that Serbia’s central strategic priority is EU membership, adding that many important steps will be taken during the Czech EU presidency, including acquisition of candidate status and the removal of visa restrictions for Serbian citizens.
We will be fully supported by the Czech Republic concerning many issues and that is the reason why I am so satisfied with today’s talks, said Jeremic.
He reiterated that, despite the fact that EU membership is Serbia’s top priority, the country will never recognize Kosovo. The Czech Republic has made it clear that the integration of the entire Western Balkans will be a priority during the country’s EU presidency. If any further conditions are set the entire process will receive a setback, said Jeremic.
Serbia believes that there is no need to set additional conditions because the requirements for EU membership are clear and Serbia will not accept any other conditions, said the Foreign Minister.
He said that every country that became part of the EU had to meet the Copenhagen Criteria and Serbia will do the same, although there is a political condition set for Serbia, which is cooperation with the Hague tribunal.
Strong Czech support for Serbia’s EU accession was confirmed by Schwarzenberg who stressed that the Czech Republic will support Serbia at all levels.
Speaking about the delays in talks on the reconfiguration of UNMIK and the deployment of EULEX to Kosovo, he said that the Security Council is responsible for settling the issue, not the EU.
During his two day visit to the Czech Republic Jeremic also met with Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexander Vondra, Deputy Senate Speaker Petr Pithart and representatives of the committee for European and foreign policy issues.
Yesterday, Jeremic held a lecture on Serbia’s foreign policy priorities at the Faculty of Humanities at the Charles University in Prague.
We will be fully supported by the Czech Republic concerning many issues and that is the reason why I am so satisfied with today’s talks, said Jeremic.
He reiterated that, despite the fact that EU membership is Serbia’s top priority, the country will never recognize Kosovo. The Czech Republic has made it clear that the integration of the entire Western Balkans will be a priority during the country’s EU presidency. If any further conditions are set the entire process will receive a setback, said Jeremic.
Serbia believes that there is no need to set additional conditions because the requirements for EU membership are clear and Serbia will not accept any other conditions, said the Foreign Minister.
He said that every country that became part of the EU had to meet the Copenhagen Criteria and Serbia will do the same, although there is a political condition set for Serbia, which is cooperation with the Hague tribunal.
Strong Czech support for Serbia’s EU accession was confirmed by Schwarzenberg who stressed that the Czech Republic will support Serbia at all levels.
Speaking about the delays in talks on the reconfiguration of UNMIK and the deployment of EULEX to Kosovo, he said that the Security Council is responsible for settling the issue, not the EU.
During his two day visit to the Czech Republic Jeremic also met with Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexander Vondra, Deputy Senate Speaker Petr Pithart and representatives of the committee for European and foreign policy issues.
Yesterday, Jeremic held a lecture on Serbia’s foreign policy priorities at the Faculty of Humanities at the Charles University in Prague.
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