Q:
A:
Foreign policy to focus on preservation of territorial integrity, sovereignty and full EU membership
Belgrade,
29 July 2012
The newly-elected Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Mrkic said today that Serbia's foreign policy will not make any turns and explained that its ground will remain to be the preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty, and its top priority - full membership in the EU.
Author:
Tanjug
In an interview with the Tanjug news agency, Mrkic said that in stable democracies, to which Serbia belongs, it is not common to make drastic turns in foreign policy and this can be seen from the positions of President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Ivica Dacic.
Speaking about relations with the United States and Russia, the Minister noted that Serbia has exceptionally good relations with Russia, whereas in the case of the United States, it wants to improve the current solid, partner relationship.
We are in a strategic partnership with Russia, which is an important partner and friend of Serbia, which helps us preserve our territorial integrity, Mrkic underlined.
On the other hand, Serbia will try to make relations with the United States better planned, more diverse and more fruitful for both sides.
As for Serbia’s integration into the EU, he underlined that it is clear to everybody in Brussels that Serbia is making huge efforts to fulfil all the requirements set before her so that accession negotiations could start as soon as possible, on which the European Commission is to make a decision in October.
Regarding regional cooperation and good-neighbourly relations, on which Brussels insists in the case of Western Balkan countries, Mrkic sees no serious obstacles in Serbia’s bilateral relations with any of its neighbours.
I expect intensive communication with our neighbours in the near future and that we will meet at many regional forums, Mrkic stated.
Speaking about relations with the United States and Russia, the Minister noted that Serbia has exceptionally good relations with Russia, whereas in the case of the United States, it wants to improve the current solid, partner relationship.
We are in a strategic partnership with Russia, which is an important partner and friend of Serbia, which helps us preserve our territorial integrity, Mrkic underlined.
On the other hand, Serbia will try to make relations with the United States better planned, more diverse and more fruitful for both sides.
As for Serbia’s integration into the EU, he underlined that it is clear to everybody in Brussels that Serbia is making huge efforts to fulfil all the requirements set before her so that accession negotiations could start as soon as possible, on which the European Commission is to make a decision in October.
Regarding regional cooperation and good-neighbourly relations, on which Brussels insists in the case of Western Balkan countries, Mrkic sees no serious obstacles in Serbia’s bilateral relations with any of its neighbours.
I expect intensive communication with our neighbours in the near future and that we will meet at many regional forums, Mrkic stated.
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