"EU accession will regulate relations in region"

Cedomir Jovanovic says Serbia's main national interest is to have relations in the region completely regulated before the country accesses the EU. Serbia should change its policy regarding the Kosovo issue and find a lasting solution to the heritage of conflicts, wars and blocked relations, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader advised on Thursday in Belgrade. "EU accession will regulate relations in region" "However paradoxical it may sound, a change of policy and a solution to the Kosovo issue are Serbia's last chance to become a part of modern Europe and turn the devastating wheel of history which was set in motion in the 80's when we decided to disconnect ourselves from the rest of the world," Jovanovic said in a written statement for the media. He underlined that "the answer to the question as to whether Serbia can finally enter the 21st century and start living according to its rules is to be found in Serbia itself and not in the expectation that someone in Europe would enable local politicians to smuggle a country into the EU regardless of its regulations". The LDP leader believes that Serbia's official policy toward Kosovo "cannot pass the test of reality and that Serbia cannot survive, let alone become a member of the EU, unless it abandons the mythomania and self-deception that has been poisoning the country for decades". He added that Serbia "cannot access the EU without accessing NATO first or solving the disagreements in the region". Cedomir Jovanovic (Tanjug, file)

"EU accession will regulate relations in region"

"However paradoxical it may sound, a change of policy and a solution to the Kosovo issue are Serbia's last chance to become a part of modern Europe and turn the devastating wheel of history which was set in motion in the 80's when we decided to disconnect ourselves from the rest of the world," Jovanović said in a written statement for the media.

He underlined that "the answer to the question as to whether Serbia can finally enter the 21st century and start living according to its rules is to be found in Serbia itself and not in the expectation that someone in Europe would enable local politicians to smuggle a country into the EU regardless of its regulations".

The LDP leader believes that Serbia's official policy toward Kosovo "cannot pass the test of reality and that Serbia cannot survive, let alone become a member of the EU, unless it abandons the mythomania and self-deception that has been poisoning the country for decades".

He added that Serbia "cannot access the EU without accessing NATO first or solving the disagreements in the region".