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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

US, EU endorse Serbia's European integration

Belgrade, 30 October 2012

Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said that he today met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton to discuss continuation and acceleration of Serbia's EU integration and fulfilment of criteria for acquiring a date for the launch of negotiations.

From left: Hillary Clinton, Ivica Dacic and Catherine Ashton

At a joint news conference with Clinton and Ashton, held at the Palace of Serbia after the meeting, which was also attended by President of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic, Dacic said that the talks addressed the topics of vital importance for Serbia.

During the meeting, which was fair and constructive, there were no ultimatums nor new conditions, Dacic said.

He specified that the political criteria that Serbia has to meet include the issue of internal reforms and establishment of visible and sustainable relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Serbia will not recognise Kosovo's independence and we should not be pressed to do that by the EU or the United States, Dacic said.

However, Serbia will do everything possible to normalise relations with Pristina for the sake of our joint integration into the EU, he said.

We are ready for talks and for reaching an agreement, which should be related to the acceleration of the European integration of Serbia, the Prime Minister said and reiterated readiness of Belgrade to solve all outstanding issues with Pristina by peaceful means.

He said that dialogue with Pristina will continue in November and expressed satisfaction with the fact that the United States and the EU will not pressurise Serbia to do what it cannot do, i.e., to recognise the independence of Kosovo.

According to him, the Serbian government has taken responsibility to implement previously reached agreements and to participate in the resumption of talks on energy and telecommunications, and has also accepted responsibility to participate in political dialogue.

The Prime Minister also expressed his condolences to the US Secretary of State over the victims of Hurricane Sandy that hit East Coast and offered Serbia’s help in removing the consequences and rescuing people.

He said that there is room for promoting economic cooperation between Serbia and the United States and that the present exchange of $425 million could be higher.

The Prime Minister recalled that with $1.7 billion the United States is among top investors in Serbia and thanked Clinton on her proposal to set up a body to promote Serbia as a good place for investment because it is a good sign that Serbia is a politically stable society.

Ashton said that dialogue and normalisation of relations with Kosovo have no alternative, but stressed that these processes do not imply recognition of Kosovo's independence.

Serbia's future is in the EU, she repeated and emphasised that during the meeting today she encouraged Nikolic and Dacic to intensify reforms and to be focused on what Serbia has to do now in order to continue moving in a positive direction.

The EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy said that an agreement was reached on how to continue dialogue quickly, and called on Belgrade and Pristina to fully implement agreements reached so far.

Clinton supported dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and urged both sides to implement the agreements reached so far and to take concrete steps to normalise relations, pointing out that this does not imply the recognition of Kosovo.

We support a unified and democratic Europe with Serbia and the whole region as its part, she said and reiterated that a lot can be achieved in the relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

The US Secretary of State said that she understands that it is difficult, but added that it is in accordance with the needs of Serbs and Serbia.

She said that Kosovo Serbs should have full support within Kosovo and should keep their ties with Serbia.

We are not here to set conditions because we do not have any. Serbia's future is in the hands of Serbia, Clinton said noting that the United States is concerned about the future, about the future of young, smart people.

She expressed satisfaction for being back in Serbia and for continuing the talks that she began in New York with President Tomislav Nikolic.

It is important that people know that the United States is working together with the EU to have Serbia become an EU member. That is why we strongly support dialogue. We share the goals of a democratic Serbia, Clinton concluded.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton arrived in Belgrade at about 15.50. They were welcomed at Nikola Tesla Airport by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Mrkic, Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert and US Ambassador to Serbia Michael Kirby.

The visit of the US Secretary of State and the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy to Serbia was covered by approximately 200 accredited journalists, photographers and cameramen from 54 editorial offices (representatives of 28 domestic and 26 foreign newsroom editorial offices). The event was broadcast live by six media companies.