Obama congratulates Serbia on new govt.

Barack Obama has congratulated Serbian leaders on forming a new government. The Democratic Party candidate at the coming U.S. presidential elections encouraged Belgrade to foster “positive and responsible relations” with its neighbors, Kosovo included. Obama congratulates Serbia on new govt. “I congratulate President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, and I wish the new government in Belgrade every success in solving the problems that have for so long prevented Serbia from realizing its great potential,” reads a statement published on Obama’s official website. The U.S. presidential hopeful says that the people of Serbia “have lived through several painful chapters in their long and proud history,” and that now “they want progress, democratic development, and economic growth.” “In May of this year, the voters showed their desire for a European future, which is a vision that was confirmed by the political leadership in forming a government that shares these aspirations,” Obama says. He states that the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU lays “foundations that the new Serbian government will be able to build on,” adding that a government “which dedicates its energy to this vision full of hope can count on his full support.” “Real progress, however, requires positive and responsible relations with all its neighbors, including Kosovo,” Obama stresses, adding that “subduing the fiery rhetoric and provocative moves of the past are of key importance in achieving this.” The Democrat candidate says that “all Serbs in the region, wherever they live, can better their lives with active participation in legitimate political institutions at all levels.” “Be assured that if I become president, I will cooperate with international and local officials in Kosovo in order to achieve an entire spectrum of protection for the Serbs, including an expansion of authorities for Serb municipalities, free and unhindered movement for the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the right to return and return of property to all refugees and displaced persons,” Obama underlines. He also says that building a better future means respecting obligations of the past. “The recent arrest of Stojan Zupljanin is an important step in that direction,” the Illinois senator points out, calling on Belgrade to do everything it can to arrest the remaining Hague fugitives, including Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. “Serbia and the U.S. have traditionally enjoyed warm relations as partners and allies,” he says, adding that his administration will look to Belgrade as an “energetic partner with which it can nurture these relations.” Barack Obama (Beta)

Obama congratulates Serbia on new govt.

“I congratulate President Boris Tadić and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, and I wish the new government in Belgrade every success in solving the problems that have for so long prevented Serbia from realizing its great potential,” reads a statement published on Obama’s official website.

The U.S. presidential hopeful says that the people of Serbia “have lived through several painful chapters in their long and proud history,” and that now “they want progress, democratic development, and economic growth.”

“In May of this year, the voters showed their desire for a European future, which is a vision that was confirmed by the political leadership in forming a government that shares these aspirations,” Obama says.

He states that the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU lays “foundations that the new Serbian government will be able to build on,” adding that a government “which dedicates its energy to this vision full of hope can count on his full support.”

“Real progress, however, requires positive and responsible relations with all its neighbors, including Kosovo,” Obama stresses, adding that “subduing the fiery rhetoric and provocative moves of the past are of key importance in achieving this.”

The Democrat candidate says that “all Serbs in the region, wherever they live, can better their lives with active participation in legitimate political institutions at all levels.”

“Be assured that if I become president, I will cooperate with international and local officials in Kosovo in order to achieve an entire spectrum of protection for the Serbs, including an expansion of authorities for Serb municipalities, free and unhindered movement for the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the right to return and return of property to all refugees and displaced persons,” Obama underlines.

He also says that building a better future means respecting obligations of the past.

“The recent arrest of Stojan Župljanin is an important step in that direction,” the Illinois senator points out, calling on Belgrade to do everything it can to arrest the remaining Hague fugitives, including Ratko Mladić and Radovan Karadžić.

“Serbia and the U.S. have traditionally enjoyed warm relations as partners and allies,” he says, adding that his administration will look to Belgrade as an “energetic partner with which it can nurture these relations.”