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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Government committed to European integration of Serbia, resolution of Kosovo issue

Belgrade, 13 April 2013

Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said in an interview with the daily newspaper "Danas" that the Serbian government is doing everything to achieve two goals – to solve the problem of Kosovo and to continue with the country’s European integration.

The official website of the government brings excerpts of the interview.

Impressions after the visit to the Russian Federation:

It is a fact that Russia strongly supports the Serbian government, primarily due to our efforts to be honest in relations with Russia and all other countries and to clearly announce our wishes and intentions. Russia is our friend; when we decide something, Russia will support us, and we will never ask Russia to decide on something for us. Russia has its own interests, but is very glad that Serbia is finally fighting for its own interests and no longer sees Russia behind whom it should hide.

Economic cooperation with Russia:

Serbia is currently learning the basic political lesson of the 21st century from Russia. Only an economically strong state, which can provide development and growth, which itself creates new jobs, is a strong one. Economic aid from Russia is a key factor in the further growth and development of Serbia, and therefore a key factor for its future power and ability to exercise and defend its national interests.

That support comes through soft loans and investments, such as the South Stream, the opening of the Russian market for Serbian products and products made in Serbia, including Fiat cars. This means a lot for Serbian national interests especially because a strong economy and a high standard can save the country.

On Russia's position on the issue of dialogue with Pristina:

The Russian position matters today regarding all issues and it is logical that we consult Russia on the Kosovo issue too. And Russia will surely help us, but expects us to make efforts and to understand our problems as our own problems. This government has identified the problem and started searching for a solution.

Russia's support is reflected primarily through really generous economic assistance. The example of South Stream, which Gazprom will finance in the part that runs through Serbia, speaks about that.

Continuation of negotiations with Pristina:

Serbia is ready, if there are no intermediaries, to continue with the direct talks with Pristina, primarily because the problem of Kosovo is the problem for both Belgrade and Pristina, and we must find a way to solve it. I think that our wish has been clearly recognised, and we got the support to continue the talks. All consultations were related to continuing dialogue and finding a solution.

On reaching a final agreement:

I said, we have no other way. Since day one, since my first meeting with Hashim Thaci, we have clearly demonstrated Serbia’s commitment. To this day, we have had a good faith that our commitment is correct and only possible. We started negotiations aware that the Kosovo issue cannot and must not be the question of blood and soil, but of the lives of people who live there. And we were aware of the fact that 32 years ago, in April, the then Presidency of the SFRY introduced a state of emergency in Kosovo due to student demonstrations, and both Serbia and Kosovo throughout all these years, to date, spent living in various forms of various emergency situations. And we wanted it to stop that. We wanted to start addressing the issues of life, its development, quality, safety. These negotiations have proven that this is possible. In the end, the questions that were left unresolved concern life and who guards the Serbs in Kosovo, who is in charge of providing medical assistance or teaching for them. This fact alone is a big progress and encourages us that a solution is possible. In the end, Thaci remarked well that a failure to agree will be a defeat for both Serbia and Kosovo, and I would add, continuation of a state of emergency for all in Serbia and for all in Kosovo. We need to put an end to that. We have to go back to the regular and normal. We need, in short, to provide life, both for Serbs and Albanians.

What are the chances for Serbia to get the date to start negotiations with the EU in June?

The most realistic is to stop connecting the solution to our biggest problem with the EU integration. We are solving the Kosovo issue to be able to live normally, and not in order to get a date. The date, however, certainly remains our goal, for the same reason – to finally live normally. But during all that time, awareness must remain that solving the Kosovo issue is for the sake of Kosovo and Serbia, and that we have to solve it no matter when we will get a date.

Serbia is devoted to its European road and is meeting its obligations from the European agenda, it is reforming and harmonising its legislation with the EU, adopting the European standards and rules, and will certainly continue to do that.

This government is doing everything and I am convinced that it is able to achieve both of these objectives, and hence to resolve the Kosovo knot and to continue the EU integration process and get a date.