Steinmeier: EU, Serbia agreement in everyone's interest

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic was in Berlin Thursday to meet German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Steinmeier commented after the talks that he hoped full agreement would be reached within the EU by Jan. 28 on the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia, Beta news agency reported. Steinmeier: EU, Serbia agreement in everyone's interest The chief of German diplomacy was also quoted as saying that it would be important for unity to be achieved within the Union regarding this issue, and that "the signing of the agreement with Serbia would be in everyone's interest." Pointing out that difficult decisions will have to be made regarding the future of the Balkans, Steinmeier stressed that it is in the interest of both Germany and Europe for Serbia to move forward on its democratic and European road. Minister Jeremic said he was certain the Stabilization and Association Agreement will be signed as soon as Jan. 28. Asked by reporters about how seriously one should take the statements of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, who said that the EU must choose between this agreement and the independence of Kosovo, Jeremic said that Kostunica is a serious politician and head of government and that Serbia has two strategic goals that it wants to pursue with equal force, namely, the preservation of its sovereignty and further approaching European integration. Commenting on Kosovo, the Serbian foreign minister said Belgrade believed that a compromise should be the key issue regarding the future status of Kosovo, and that the EU mission is included in this and planned. He pointed out Belgrade's stand that "for this, there should be an appropriate framework in the form of a UN resolution," adding that talks about this will continue with his German partners over the next few weeks. Meanwhile in Belgrade, also Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said he expected the SAA to be signed "soon". "The agreement is ready from the technical point of view. It is in Serbia's interest and I expect to sign it very soon on behalf of the Serbian government," Djelic told reporters. He reminded that European commissioner Olli Rehn expected Serbia's full cooperation with the Hague tribunal and that a certain number of countries still expect the war-time leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Ratko Mladic, to be extradited before the signing of the agreement. Djelic stressed that the Serbian government is working very actively on demonstrating in the forthcoming period that it is fully cooperating with the tribunal. Economy and Regional Development Minister Mladjan Dinkic stated on Jan. 10 that Djelic is authorized to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU. Speaking at a news conference after the Serbian government's session, Dinkic noted that the Serbian government in December considered and adopted the text of this agreement and authorized Djelic to sign it. He added that the G17 Plus, which he leads, is "strongly advocating the continuing of Serbia's integration with Europe as soon as possible." Vuk Jeremic and Frank-Walter Steinmeier (FoNet)

Steinmeier: EU, Serbia agreement in everyone's interest

The chief of German diplomacy was also quoted as saying that it would be important for unity to be achieved within the Union regarding this issue, and that "the signing of the agreement with Serbia would be in everyone's interest."

Pointing out that difficult decisions will have to be made regarding the future of the Balkans, Steinmeier stressed that it is in the interest of both Germany and Europe for Serbia to move forward on its democratic and European road.

Minister Jeremić said he was certain the Stabilization and Association Agreement will be signed as soon as Jan. 28.

Asked by reporters about how seriously one should take the statements of Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica, who said that the EU must choose between this agreement and the independence of Kosovo, Jeremić said that Koštunica is a serious politician and head of government and that Serbia has two strategic goals that it wants to pursue with equal force, namely, the preservation of its sovereignty and further approaching European integration.

Commenting on Kosovo, the Serbian foreign minister said Belgrade believed that a compromise should be the key issue regarding the future status of Kosovo, and that the EU mission is included in this and planned.

He pointed out Belgrade's stand that "for this, there should be an appropriate framework in the form of a UN resolution," adding that talks about this will continue with his German partners over the next few weeks.

Meanwhile in Belgrade, also Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić said he expected the SAA to be signed "soon".

"The agreement is ready from the technical point of view. It is in Serbia's interest and I expect to sign it very soon on behalf of the Serbian government," Đelić told reporters.

He reminded that European commissioner Olli Rehn expected Serbia's full cooperation with the Hague tribunal and that a certain number of countries still expect the war-time leader of the Bosnian Serbs, Ratko Mladić, to be extradited before the signing of the agreement.

Đelić stressed that the Serbian government is working very actively on demonstrating in the forthcoming period that it is fully cooperating with the tribunal.

Economy and Regional Development Minister Mlađan Dinkić stated on Jan. 10 that Đelić is authorized to sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU.

Speaking at a news conference after the Serbian government's session, Dinkić noted that the Serbian government in December considered and adopted the text of this agreement and authorized Đelić to sign it.

He added that the G17 Plus, which he leads, is "strongly advocating the continuing of Serbia's integration with Europe as soon as possible."