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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia wishes to develop cooperation with Bosnia-Herzegovina

Belgrade/Banjaluka, 25 April 2009

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic said that Serbia’s policy towards Bosnia-Herzegovina is very clear. Serbia recognises the territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina but as one of the signatories and guarantors of the Dayton Agreement does not want any further changes made.

File photo of Bozidar Djelic

Author: Tanjug

In an interview with Glas Srpske, Djelic stressed that Serbia wishes to develop cooperation with both Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Speaking about countries from the region joining the EU, Djelic said that the EU’s official policy is that the case of every country should be treated individually.

I believe that the idea behind this policy is that every country should do its share of work. Serbia has a clear plan to make it possible for Serbian citizens to travel without visa to EU countries by the end of this year. The plan is to reach a point of complete harmonisation with EU regulations by 2012 and acquire EU membership soon after that, said Djelic.

He said that it is not known whether the EU’s enlargement process will mean the countries of the West Balkans joining one by one or many at once.

Commenting about the Stabilisation and Association Agreement Djelic said that the political condition regarding the agreement is well known.

The condition is full cooperation with the Hague tribunal. Serbia is doing everything in its power to arrest and handover the remaining two Hague indictees Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. This is our international as well as national obligation, said Djelic.

Commenting about Sarajevo’s demand for an apology from Serbia for the crimes committed in Srebrenica, Djelic said Serbia has already done so and it would be good to hear a similar message from the other side.

It is very important that the justice system establishes responsibility regarding every case of war crime and identifies the individuals who are guilty of those crimes. Serbia is cooperating with the Hague tribunal so that facts are established and if certain individuals are found guilty then they alone should be held responsible for their crimes, not an entire nation or country, said Djelic.