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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Italy gives full support to Serbia-Montenegro’s accession to EU

Belgrade, 23 February 2005

Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said today, during a meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini, that the Serb community in Kosovo-Metohija is in a very difficult position and that their basic human rights are endangered.

Kostunica stressed that there is no freedom of movement or conditions for the return of Serbs and non-Albanians who fled the province and he expressed gratitude to Italian troops in KFOR who are protecting the Patriarchate of Pec and Serbian monasteries in Kosovo-Metohija.

Fini agreed that the position of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija is very difficult and he urged greater engagement of the international community in the protection of human rights in the province. Fini added that it is necessary to meet set standards before talks on the province’s final status.

Kostunica also said that the Serbian government is committed to European integration and that a positive feasibility study is expected late in March.

Fini said that Italy gives full support to Serbia-Montenegro in its efforts to join the EU, which he also noted is of great importance for progress and stability in the entire region.

The Serbian Prime Minister said that in the process of European integrations further disintegration of the Balkans is unacceptable, but unfortunately it has marked the difficult previous decade. Kostunica pointed out that the government was determined to cooperate with The Hague Tribunal and that so far much has been achieved in this area, as put forth by the model of voluntary surrender favoured by the government. The Italian Deputy Prime Minister agreed with the fact that Serbia-Montenegro has made progress in its cooperation with the tribunal.

Kostunica and Fini assessed that relations of Serbia-Montenegro and Italy are exceptionally good, and that overall economic relations have improved. Of particular importance, Kostunica underlined, was the cooperation of Italian “Fiat Auto” and the “Grupa Zastava” from Kragujevac. He also stressed the importance of Italy’s support in the development of small and medium size enterprises in Serbia as well as the participation of Italian firms in the privatisation process.