Minister, ambassador apologize over incidents

Serbia's Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic today expressed his regret over incidents in Italy on Tuesday, caused by visiting Serbian football fans. Jeremic spoke with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini, it has been confirmed at the Serbian MFA in Belgrade today. Minister, ambassador apologize over incidents Jeremic said that the government in Belgrade, once it determines who was responsible for the hooligan incidents in Genoa, will not hesitate to apply radical measures against them. Jeremic stressed that it was particularly regrettable that such an unfortunate incident happened in a country such as Italy, "with which Serbia has many ties and which is a great champion of Serbia's EU aspirations". Frattini for his part told Jeremic that his government and public in Italy were very disappointed and distressed by the serious and unacceptable incidents caused by radical Serbian fans. The Italian official said in a statement for the media that it was the criminals who caused the clashes that should be ashamed, rather than the country that has emerged from a difficult period and which Italy supports on its way toward the EU. The incidents yesterday, Frattini said, showed that the person who caused them were dangerous for Serbia, Italy and the EU. Serbian Ambassador to Italy Sanda Raskovic-Ilic also apologized to Italy in the wake of the incidents. "These thugs do not represent the feelings and behavior of the Serb nation," the ambassador stated. Vuk Jeremic (Tanjug, file)

Minister, ambassador apologize over incidents

Jeremić said that the government in Belgrade, once it determines who was responsible for the hooligan incidents in Genoa, will not hesitate to apply radical measures against them.

Jeremić stressed that it was particularly regrettable that such an unfortunate incident happened in a country such as Italy, "with which Serbia has many ties and which is a great champion of Serbia's EU aspirations".

Frattini for his part told Jeremić that his government and public in Italy were very disappointed and distressed by the serious and unacceptable incidents caused by radical Serbian fans.

The Italian official said in a statement for the media that it was the criminals who caused the clashes that should be ashamed, rather than the country that has emerged from a difficult period and which Italy supports on its way toward the EU.

The incidents yesterday, Frattini said, showed that the person who caused them were dangerous for Serbia, Italy and the EU.

Serbian Ambassador to Italy Sanda Rašković-Ilić also apologized to Italy in the wake of the incidents.

"These thugs do not represent the feelings and behavior of the Serb nation," the ambassador stated.