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A:
Negotiations on EU membership should start as soon as possible
Belgrade,
27 October 2010
Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Bozidar Djelic said today that it would be best for Serbia to start negotiations on EU membership as soon as possible and noted that it is not guaranteed that it will obtain the candidate status next year or in early 2012.
In an interview with the daily Danas, Djelic stated that it certainly would not be good if this historical work would be delayed due to elections, and stressed that what Serbia needs the least in this moment is instability at home.
He noted that during the visit of EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule to Belgrade, he underlined that the EU wants its recommendations, especially when it comes to reform of the judiciary, to be taken seriously, because it wants this reform to be carried until the end and in accordance with European standards.
One of the chapters in the Questionnaire of the European Commission is the "free movement of goods" which would, among other things, mean that Serbia has to recognise customs stamps of Kosovo, Djelic confirmed and recalled that the Kosovo authorities attempted to change one-sidedly the CEFTA international agreement which they joined under the name of UNMIK / Kosovo.
Under international law, a party to an international agreement cannot change the agreement without the consent of other members, Djelic underlined and warned that Kosovo institutions are trying to obtain in a roundabout way a form of recognition of a self-proclaimed state.
Serbia is ready for a compromise that will respect its Constitution and UN Security Council Resolution 1244, he reiterated, adding that this may be one of the first questions that can be solved in the upcoming dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
Djelic underscored that the European Commission retains its status neutral position regarding Kosovo in the Questionnaire as well.
In this sense, what is offered is something that in no way forces Serbia to recognise Kosovo. On the other hand, as shown in the Report of the European Commission, the EU calls on us to make additional efforts for everybody to be involved in the regional cooperation, the Deputy Prime Minister maintained.
We are ready for it. Serbia's goal is not to isolate Kosovo, but it cannot be done at the expense of our state policy, Djelic concluded.
He noted that during the visit of EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule to Belgrade, he underlined that the EU wants its recommendations, especially when it comes to reform of the judiciary, to be taken seriously, because it wants this reform to be carried until the end and in accordance with European standards.
One of the chapters in the Questionnaire of the European Commission is the "free movement of goods" which would, among other things, mean that Serbia has to recognise customs stamps of Kosovo, Djelic confirmed and recalled that the Kosovo authorities attempted to change one-sidedly the CEFTA international agreement which they joined under the name of UNMIK / Kosovo.
Under international law, a party to an international agreement cannot change the agreement without the consent of other members, Djelic underlined and warned that Kosovo institutions are trying to obtain in a roundabout way a form of recognition of a self-proclaimed state.
Serbia is ready for a compromise that will respect its Constitution and UN Security Council Resolution 1244, he reiterated, adding that this may be one of the first questions that can be solved in the upcoming dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
Djelic underscored that the European Commission retains its status neutral position regarding Kosovo in the Questionnaire as well.
In this sense, what is offered is something that in no way forces Serbia to recognise Kosovo. On the other hand, as shown in the Report of the European Commission, the EU calls on us to make additional efforts for everybody to be involved in the regional cooperation, the Deputy Prime Minister maintained.
We are ready for it. Serbia's goal is not to isolate Kosovo, but it cannot be done at the expense of our state policy, Djelic concluded.
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