Jeremić concludes Slovenia visit

Jeremić concludes Slovenia visit

“I relayed to my Slovenian hosts Belgrade’s well-known [Kosovo] position, and asked for understanding for our stance. I said Serbia expected Slovenia to show perhaps a higher degree of understanding compared to other EU countries, considering we have a common past and the fact they are better acquainted with the delicacy of relations in the region,” Jeremić told journalists after the meeting.

“I believe I met with their understanding and agreement that negotiations should continue, but that they cannot drag on forever. We agree with this, however we believe the talks should last until there is a compromise solution,” Jeremić said in Ljubljana.

Rupel once again reiterated support for the Ahtisaari plan and added that the EU would make a step back, if it were to give up on the plan which it previously endorsed.

Rupel added that he expected the Kosovo status to be settled during Slovenia’s six-month EU presidency, which starts in January 2008.

Jeremić also discussed the issues of closer economic ties between the two countries, and pushed for equal investment opportunities for Serbian companies as those afforded to the Slovenian investors in the Serbian market.

According to Jeremić, Janez Janša plans to visit Belgrade during September.

Slovenian Foreign Ministry said ahead of Jeremić’s visit that bilateral relations between Serbia and Slovenia were "very good" and that Slovenia backed Serbia in efforts to engage in Euro-Atlantic integrations.

The statement also said that the trade between the two states in 2006 stood at EUR 747mn, and that Slovenian companies were frequently investing in Serbia.

As for the status of Kosovo, the Foreign Ministry added Slovenia backed Ahtisaari’s plan for Kosovo as "the only realistic basis for development of a multi-ethnic Kosovo."

“The plan must also respect legitimate interests of Serbia and its citizens in Kosovo. The new status of Kosovo should not exclude Serbia, which means that the process of regulating its status must run parallel with the process of Serbia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.”

After Ljubljana, Jeremić will travel to Vienna to address OSCE ambassadors, and then continue to Madrid and Lisbon in his efforts to garner support from the Spanish and Portuguese officials regarding “certain key issues for the future of Serbia and the region”, according to the government web site.