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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia fulfils crucial conditions for starting negotiations with EU

Belgrade, 30 November 2012

Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic said that the time has come for Serbia to move forward in the European integration because it has fulfilled the key conditions for opening negotiations with the EU and that it would be wrong to stop Serbia’s European path because of the relations with Pristina.

In an interview to magazine Cord, Dacic said that the problem of Kosovo-Metohija was not created overnight, it is not realistic for it to be solved overnight and it cannot be solved without an agreement with Serbia.

We are ready to discuss everything and I think that this is a process that should go in parallel with negotiations on membership. It would be very wrong to stop Serbia’s European path due to relations with Pristina, Dacic stated.

He reiterated that Serbia wants to open membership talks with the EU as soon as possible and underlined that we have worked very hard to make changes within the system so far. We have shown that we have the will, that we can get it done and that we have people who are capable and competent to operate to the highest standards.

We believe that we have fulfilled the political criteria cited in last December’s European Council conclusions on Serbia, namely, the “normalisation of relations with Pristina” and therefore, we deserve to get a start date for negotiations, Dacic said and noted that key conditions for starting the negotiations have been fulfilled.

According to him, the process of dialogue with Pristina has been started at the highest political level and Serbia is ready to implement the agreements on regional representation and integrated management of administrative crossings, reached by the previous government of Serbia.

The process of dialogue has started, which represents moving away from the standstill which was to the detriment of Serbia. But problems should be solved, and we have shown a willingness to do it. We believe that the time has come to move forward in European integration, the Prime Minister underlined.

Speaking about the upcoming, third meeting with representative of the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina Hashim Thaci, Dacic said that the goal is normalisation of relations and solution of everyday problems of all citizens in Kosovo-Metohija.

We should build good relations between the Albanian and Serbian sides, and I think that this can be achieved through our focus on the need for cooperation for economic development and infrastructure construction. Only in this way will citizens live better and will tensions decrease. I believe that Kosovo Albanians will then begin to perceive a different potential cooperation with Belgrade and, in time, will show willingness for the historic compromise between two nations, Dacic stressed.

Referring to the acquittal decision of the Hague tribunal in case of Ramush Haradinaj, he said that this decision is based on politics, not law, while the acquittal of Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac will have a negative impact on the relations in the region and the reconciliation process. Dacic reiterated that Serbia will reduce its relations with the Hague tribunal to technical level, which means that it will fulfil all international legal obligations, but will not have any other forms of cooperation and underlined that this cannot harm the further progress of European integration.

Commenting on the relations with Croatia, the Prime Minister of Serbia underlined that they never depend on only one side and that Serbia’s cooperation with Croatia depends on the willingness of Croatia as well.

He said that Serbia considers inappropriate the glorification of Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac and their proclamation as national heroes because this makes us wonder what message does this send to all Serbs who remained living in Croatia, as well as many Serbs, citizens of Croatia, still living as refugees in Serbia.

Dacic noted that in the previous period there has been a slowdown in cooperation with Croatia and pointed out that regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations are among the postulates of the EU of which Croatia will soon become a member.

Therefore in the near future, the two countries should be more focused on their common interests, Dacic concluded.