Q:
A:
Kosovo, EU integration still top Serbia’s priorities
Belgrade,
11 December 2008
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic stated today that the Kosovo-Metohija issue and Serbia’s EU integration will be Serbia’s top foreign policy priorities in 2009.
Author:
Tanjug
At the Foreign Affairs Committee session, Jeremic said that this year has been extremely intensive and complicated regarding Serbia’s foreign policy and transition.
The Minister recalled that Serbia had to deal with an attempt at secession by Pristina authorities.
The Serbian government decided to ask for the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s opinion regarding the status of Kosovo, said the Minister, adding that Serbia’s charges against countries that recognised Kosovo-Metohija would only hamper its EU integration.
Apart from cooperation with the Hague tribunal, there was another precondition for Serbia to join the EU and that is to withdraw its charges, which would mean to give up Kosovo.
The Minister voiced hope that the ICJ’s decision will be in Serbia’s favour, preventing further recognition of Kosovo and its accession to any international organisations, adding that in that case Serbia would offer new negotiations to Albanians.
Jeremic announced that Serbia will submit the first petition to the ICJ and expects all processes to be completed by the end of 2010.
Jeremic stressed that the EU integration process remains a priority for this government, adding that further progress on the EU road depends on the situation within the Union.
He noted that currently the biggest problem is the arrest of Ratko Mladic.
Jeremic stressed that remarks that Serbia is not cooperating with the Hague tribunal are not true and expressed hope that cooperation with the court will be finalised soon.
There is absolute political will for that process to be completed and there is only one country in the EU claiming that Serbia is not cooperating with the tribunal, he said.
The abolition of the visa regime also remains one of our priorities, he stressed.
Serbia would stop its EU integration if it was forced to recognise Kosovo, the Minister said. Commenting on the announcements of counter-charges against Croatia, he said that maybe this is the best way to settle relations from the past for good, so that political relations are unburdened by the past.
The Minister recalled that Serbia had to deal with an attempt at secession by Pristina authorities.
The Serbian government decided to ask for the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s opinion regarding the status of Kosovo, said the Minister, adding that Serbia’s charges against countries that recognised Kosovo-Metohija would only hamper its EU integration.
Apart from cooperation with the Hague tribunal, there was another precondition for Serbia to join the EU and that is to withdraw its charges, which would mean to give up Kosovo.
The Minister voiced hope that the ICJ’s decision will be in Serbia’s favour, preventing further recognition of Kosovo and its accession to any international organisations, adding that in that case Serbia would offer new negotiations to Albanians.
Jeremic announced that Serbia will submit the first petition to the ICJ and expects all processes to be completed by the end of 2010.
Jeremic stressed that the EU integration process remains a priority for this government, adding that further progress on the EU road depends on the situation within the Union.
He noted that currently the biggest problem is the arrest of Ratko Mladic.
Jeremic stressed that remarks that Serbia is not cooperating with the Hague tribunal are not true and expressed hope that cooperation with the court will be finalised soon.
There is absolute political will for that process to be completed and there is only one country in the EU claiming that Serbia is not cooperating with the tribunal, he said.
The abolition of the visa regime also remains one of our priorities, he stressed.
Serbia would stop its EU integration if it was forced to recognise Kosovo, the Minister said. Commenting on the announcements of counter-charges against Croatia, he said that maybe this is the best way to settle relations from the past for good, so that political relations are unburdened by the past.
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