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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

EU willing to help Serbia acquire candidate status

Belgrade/Brussels, 26 January 2009

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said today in Brussels that Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen has accepted an invitation to visit Serbia soon and that during talks with Verhagen he was reassured that the Netherlands supports Serbia’s efforts to become a member of the EU.

Author: Fonet

Jeremic is attending a session of the EU Council of Ministers in Brussels where, following talks with the foreign ministers of the UK, Germany, Romania and other EU member states, he was reassured that the EU is willing to help Serbia acquire candidate status by the end of 2009.

He said that at today’s EU ministerial troika meeting he will highlight the importance of the removal of visa restrictions for Serbian citizens, adding that in a political sense this would be a great step towards achieving Serbia’s strategic priority, which is EU membership.

The Minister announced talks concerning the technical process of visa liberalisation for Serbian citizens.

He explained that his meetings with EU foreign ministers are of the utmost importance, as they need to know of Serbia’s priorities for 2009.

Speaking to Verhagen Jeremic said that Serbia understands that the Netherlands has reservations about unblocking the transitional trade agreement between the EU and Serbia but he stressed that it is important that they are ready to make every effort, together with other EU member states and Serbia, to overcome all current problems.

Jeremic told Verhagen and other EU ministers that the Hague tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz might come up with a new assesment of Serbia's cooperation with the tribunal even before his regular report to the UN Security Council in June.

Jeremic said that it is of huge importance that we establish an open and sincere dialogue with Holland, noting that Holland will be Serbia’s future partner in the EU.

There is no dilemma, Serbia is resolved to fully cooperate with The Hague and the Belgrade authorities are completely dedicated to solving that issue, he said, noting that Serbia’s strategic priority is EU integration.