Deputy PM: Our Kosovo stance is clear

Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said that Serbia’s stance that it would not recognize Kosovo in order to join the EU was very clear. This was his reaction to the statement made by UK Ambassador to Serbia Stephen Wordsworth, who said that the Kosovo issue and Serbia’s EU integration are no longer traveling on separate tracks. Deputy PM: Our Kosovo stance is clear “Serbia will never directly or indirectly recognize the illegally proclaimed independence of Kosovo,” he told daily Vecernje Novosti. As far as the EU questionnaire is concerned, Djelic said that all of the questions, even the ones related to territory and population, will be answered in accordance with the Serbian Constitution, and where it is being applied, with the UN Security Council Resolution 1244. “Serbia accepts this resolution, because it is in accordance with our policies regarding Kosovo,” he said. “SAA ratification after June 14” Serbian Deputy PM Bozidar Djelic says he expects that the report of Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will be positive. Djelic also said that the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) ratification process will be launched immediately after the meeting of the EU Council of Ministers in Luxembourg on June 14. “Serbia's strategically committed to the EU accession and this strategic step should not be in any way conditioned by the recognition of Kosovo, since Serbia will never accept that,” Djelic said. He said that the EU accession was in the best interest of the Serbian citizens. During a break in a conference on Serbia's science sector diaspora, Djelic recalled that Serbia is expected to take several more steps in June regarding the EU integration process. Several days after the Luxembourg meeting, I will informally present the already prepared answers to the questionnaire that our neighbors already received, and thus demonstrate that Serbia is ready for the EU candidacy status, Djelic said. Afterward, Djelic and EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Policy Olli Rehn will sign an agreement on EUR 200mn budget support for 2010 and 2011, he said. Commenting on the assessment that the situation in Europe is difficult and that Serbia should halt the EU integration process, Djelic underlined that Serbia tends to be a serious country which does not change its strategic commitment, even when its partners have problems.

Deputy PM: Our Kosovo stance is clear

“Serbia will never directly or indirectly recognize the illegally proclaimed independence of Kosovo,” he told daily Večernje Novosti.

As far as the EU questionnaire is concerned, Đelić said that all of the questions, even the ones related to territory and population, will be answered in accordance with the Serbian Constitution, and where it is being applied, with the UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

“Serbia accepts this resolution, because it is in accordance with our policies regarding Kosovo,” he said.

“SAA ratification after June 14”

Serbian Deputy PM Božidar Đelić says he expects that the report of Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will be positive.

Đelić also said that the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) ratification process will be launched immediately after the meeting of the EU Council of Ministers in Luxembourg on June 14.

“Serbia's strategically committed to the EU accession and this strategic step should not be in any way conditioned by the recognition of Kosovo, since Serbia will never accept that,” Đelić said.

He said that the EU accession was in the best interest of the Serbian citizens.

During a break in a conference on Serbia's science sector diaspora, Đelić recalled that Serbia is expected to take several more steps in June regarding the EU integration process.

Several days after the Luxembourg meeting, I will informally present the already prepared answers to the questionnaire that our neighbors already received, and thus demonstrate that Serbia is ready for the EU candidacy status, Đelić said.

Afterward, Đelić and EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Policy Olli Rehn will sign an agreement on EUR 200mn budget support for 2010 and 2011, he said.

Commenting on the assessment that the situation in Europe is difficult and that Serbia should halt the EU integration process, Đelić underlined that Serbia tends to be a serious country which does not change its strategic commitment, even when its partners have problems.