“Serbia must know how to use ICJ decision”

Former foreign minister Goran Svilanovic said that the ICJ decision on Kosovo will have no meaning if Belgrade does not know what it wants to achieve with it. “It is up to Serbia to prepare a proposal on what it wants, and in which direction to move forward. Talks on the highest levels can already begin on this topic, first and foremost with EU officials, and then with Russia and the U.S.,” Svilanovic told daily Blic. “Serbia must know how to use ICJ decision” "This initiative should lead everyone into the process of getting accommodated to the new circumstances," he added. He explained that the new circumstances of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence are made up of the fact that Serbia has not recognize its independence, the EU having sent its EULEX mission to Kosovo, the coming opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the need for constant dialogue regarding the future and needed cooperation in Southeast Europe between all countries. Svilanovic, who is a coordinator in the OSCE, said that the time has come for Serbia to apply for EU candidacy and that it is not important whether the application will be accepted in a matter of days or months. “With the candidacy, all dilemmas of what direction Serbia is heading in and who its main partners are will be removed. With the application, Serbia will state to everyone that its policies are irreversibly European,” Svilanovic told the daily. Asked how Serbia’s diplomacy is doing, Svilanovic said that relations must be improved with neighboring countries, adding that this is, in his opinion, an unavoidable task for the coming year.

“Serbia must know how to use ICJ decision”

"This initiative should lead everyone into the process of getting accommodated to the new circumstances," he added.

He explained that the new circumstances of Kosovo’s unilaterally declared independence are made up of the fact that Serbia has not recognize its independence, the EU having sent its EULEX mission to Kosovo, the coming opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the need for constant dialogue regarding the future and needed cooperation in Southeast Europe between all countries.

Svilanović, who is a coordinator in the OSCE, said that the time has come for Serbia to apply for EU candidacy and that it is not important whether the application will be accepted in a matter of days or months.

“With the candidacy, all dilemmas of what direction Serbia is heading in and who its main partners are will be removed. With the application, Serbia will state to everyone that its policies are irreversibly European,” Svilanović told the daily.

Asked how Serbia’s diplomacy is doing, Svilanović said that relations must be improved with neighboring countries, adding that this is, in his opinion, an unavoidable task for the coming year.