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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia to apply for EU membership this year

Belgrade, 11 January 2009

Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic, opening the Second Ambassadorial Conference, stressed that perseverance in diplomatic efforts, speeding up the EU integration process and regional cooperation will be Serbia’s foreign policy priorities this year.

Miguel Angel Moratinos and Vuk Jeremic

Author: Tanjug

Jeremic said that this year Serbia will apply for EU membership and may even acquire candidate status by the end of 2009.

He stressed the importance of the visa regime with the EU for Serbian citizens.

The road to Europe should not begin in a long queue on the pavement in front of an embassy. Our citizens should not be forced to take several days off from work in order to get visas to visit their relatives abroad, said the Minister.

Jeremic noted that following Kosovo’s unilateral proclamation of independence it is of vital national interest to continue the fight for the preservation of sovereignty and territorial integrity in a peaceful manner, recalling that Serbia has made it clear where it stands and the government will stick to that without exception.

The Minister stressed it is high time the transitional agreement between Serbia and the EU is unfrozen because Serbia is cooperating with the Hague tribunal.

Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Angel Moratinos invited the Dutch government to alter its stance and enable the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and Serbia’s EU accession.

Governments from 26 countries have been fully engaged in starting the implementation of the agreement and I would like to use this opportunity and invite Holland to reconsider its decision and enable the acceleration of Serbia’s EU integration process, stressed Moratinos.

He noted that Serbia must implement the necessary reforms.

We do not know how long this will last, but I hope that after applying for candidate status, talks with the EU will take on a faster pace, said the Spanish Minister.

In that sense, Moratinos recalled Spain’s experience, because it took nine years to prepare for full EU membership.

He added that 2008 was a difficult and strenuous year for Serbia, bearing in mind Kosovo’s unilaterally proclaimed independence, but was also successful in terms of Serbian diplomacy. He also commended the Serbian government for the maturity it showed in defending Kosovo.

Spain was very steadfast in its defence of the values in which the two countries believe when it comes to solving the status of Kosovo, reiterated Moratinos, whose country did not recognise the province’s independence.

He said it is important that Serbia continues with the same policies and remains constructive when it comes to the EU mission in Kosovo.

Today Serbia has freedom, democracy and an opportunity to join Europe and enjoy peace and wellbeing. This is my Serbia, said Moratinos in excellent Serbian, which he learned 20 years ago during while working in Belgrade.

The conference will resume tomorrow when Serbian President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic will also be attending.