FM attends CEI meeting in Montenegro

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said that Serbia supports strengthening of neighborly relations in the region and the EU integration of the Western Balkans. At the ministerial meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI) in Montenegro today, Jeremic said that Serbia was decisive on its road toward the EU, which was the government’s chief priority. FM attends CEI meeting in Montenegro “As the largest country in the Western Balkans, we are ready to play a key role in the joint efforts with a goal of having the enlargement process include the last non-integrated part of Europe,” Jeremic said. With the goal of strengthening regional cooperation and good neighborly relations in mind, Jeremic said, Serbia supports implementing international arbitration in solving the border disputes between Slovenia and Croatia, and supports EZ visa liberalization for Bosnian and Albanian citizens. Jeremic was also quoted as saying that he hoped that the European Commission would soon discuss Serbia’s application for EU candidate status, since the EU gave approval on Monday for the start of the ratification process of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the Union. “Strengthening good neighborly relations in the Western Balkans is of key importance, and a major part of the effort is complete reconciliation in the region,” Jeremic said, adding that a majority of the participators in the conference showed a great readiness to responsibly and honestly reflect on events of the past. He commended Croatian President Ivo Josipovic for his recent initiative for reconciliation among the people of the Balkans, which Bosnian officials have helped with as well. Jeremic also reminded that Serbian President Boris Tadic attended the 10-year commemoration of the Srebrenica massacre and “has many times state his deep regret over the policies led by Slobodan Milosevic”. “The national parliament of Serbia adopted a historic declaration in late March on Srebrenica which decisively condemns the war crimes that occurred there. This document is without precedent and the first of its kind, which send condolences and states regret to the families of the Bosniak victims, and at the same time calls on other regional legislatures to follow its example,” Jeremic said. He said that Serbia will continue to encourage the presence of Kosovo Albanian representatives on an international level on certain acceptable occasions, such as the high level meeting of the Western Balkans held in Sarajevo recently. “This conference today,” Jeremic continued, “is not that kind of meeting. Pristina is not in attendance here because the CEI only gathers sovereign states.”

FM attends CEI meeting in Montenegro

“As the largest country in the Western Balkans, we are ready to play a key role in the joint efforts with a goal of having the enlargement process include the last non-integrated part of Europe,” Jeremić said.

With the goal of strengthening regional cooperation and good neighborly relations in mind, Jeremić said, Serbia supports implementing international arbitration in solving the border disputes between Slovenia and Croatia, and supports EZ visa liberalization for Bosnian and Albanian citizens.

Jeremić was also quoted as saying that he hoped that the European Commission would soon discuss Serbia’s application for EU candidate status, since the EU gave approval on Monday for the start of the ratification process of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the Union.

“Strengthening good neighborly relations in the Western Balkans is of key importance, and a major part of the effort is complete reconciliation in the region,” Jeremić said, adding that a majority of the participators in the conference showed a great readiness to responsibly and honestly reflect on events of the past.

He commended Croatian President Ivo Josipović for his recent initiative for reconciliation among the people of the Balkans, which Bosnian officials have helped with as well.

Jeremić also reminded that Serbian President Boris Tadić attended the 10-year commemoration of the Srebrenica massacre and “has many times state his deep regret over the policies led by Slobodan Milošević”.

“The national parliament of Serbia adopted a historic declaration in late March on Srebrenica which decisively condemns the war crimes that occurred there. This document is without precedent and the first of its kind, which send condolences and states regret to the families of the Bosniak victims, and at the same time calls on other regional legislatures to follow its example,” Jeremić said.

He said that Serbia will continue to encourage the presence of Kosovo Albanian representatives on an international level on certain acceptable occasions, such as the high level meeting of the Western Balkans held in Sarajevo recently.

“This conference today,” Jeremić continued, “is not that kind of meeting. Priština is not in attendance here because the CEI only gathers sovereign states.”