Q:
A:
Serbia expects official EU candidacy in 2009
Belgrade/Luxemburg,
17 December 2008
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said that Serbia expects to receive the liberalised visa regime as well as an official EU candidacy in 2009.
Jean Aselborn and Vuk Jeremic
Author:
Fonet
Jeremic, who is on a visit to Luxembourg, said after meeting with his counterpart from Luxemburg Jean Aselborn, that Serbia understands that the EU functions upon the principle of consensus, which is not always easy to achieve, but our country will not give up its goals.
Serbia fully cooperates with the Hague tribunal and I expect that the next institutional step in Serbia’s accession will be made soon, he said.
Serbia will continue to fight for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Jeremic said, adding that the fact that Brussels and Belgrade agree that the Kosovo issue and EU integration are two separate processes is good.
It is crucial that these two processes remain separate, he said, expressing his hope that Brussels will not change its position on this.
Aselborn said that he believes an understanding can be reached with Holland in order to unfreeze the Transitional Agreement with Serbia during the upcoming weeks.
He also said he understands the Dutch reasons for their firm position on cooperation with The Hague. Aselborn voiced hope that an agreement will be reached with Dutch Foreign Minister Maxim Verhagen over next few weeks, adding that it is of top importance to unfreeze the Transitional Trade Agreement and Luxembourg is doing its best in this respect.
He said Luxembourg considers Serbia to have made considerable progress concerning its cooperation with the Hague tribunal and recalled that Radovan Karadzic has already been arrested and that much is being done regarding the arrest of the remaining indictee, Ratko Mladic.
The Minister said that The Netherlands and Belgium share the same stance, according to which Serbia has to make more efforts in this respect.
It is necessary that the EU also gives its opinion regarding this issue.
Aselborn said that the Kosovo-Metohija problem has to be solved gradually, adding that Kosovo and Serbia’s EU integration are two completely separate issues.
The minister commended Belgrade’s help regarding the deployment of EULEX in the province.
Serbia fully cooperates with the Hague tribunal and I expect that the next institutional step in Serbia’s accession will be made soon, he said.
Serbia will continue to fight for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Jeremic said, adding that the fact that Brussels and Belgrade agree that the Kosovo issue and EU integration are two separate processes is good.
It is crucial that these two processes remain separate, he said, expressing his hope that Brussels will not change its position on this.
Aselborn said that he believes an understanding can be reached with Holland in order to unfreeze the Transitional Agreement with Serbia during the upcoming weeks.
He also said he understands the Dutch reasons for their firm position on cooperation with The Hague. Aselborn voiced hope that an agreement will be reached with Dutch Foreign Minister Maxim Verhagen over next few weeks, adding that it is of top importance to unfreeze the Transitional Trade Agreement and Luxembourg is doing its best in this respect.
He said Luxembourg considers Serbia to have made considerable progress concerning its cooperation with the Hague tribunal and recalled that Radovan Karadzic has already been arrested and that much is being done regarding the arrest of the remaining indictee, Ratko Mladic.
The Minister said that The Netherlands and Belgium share the same stance, according to which Serbia has to make more efforts in this respect.
It is necessary that the EU also gives its opinion regarding this issue.
Aselborn said that the Kosovo-Metohija problem has to be solved gradually, adding that Kosovo and Serbia’s EU integration are two completely separate issues.
The minister commended Belgrade’s help regarding the deployment of EULEX in the province.
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