Serbian state officials meet with German chancellor

Serbian state officials, including the president, are today in Belgrade meeting with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel stated Tuesday following the talks with Serbian President Boris Tadic that Germany wants Serbia to become an EU member state. Serbian state officials meet with German chancellor We believe that Serbia's place is in Europe. We acknowledge and commend the courage demonstrated on that road, Merkel said at a joint press conference with Tadic. We see Serbia's future in the EU, and we will do everything in our power to help Serbia overcome possible obstacles in that pathway in line with the European principles. She underlined that, as regards the Kosovo issue, progress should be made in relations between Belgrade and Pristina. "We pointed out that Serbia recognized Kosovo, while Serbia did not. That's a situation where progress is needed - results in direct dialogue, work of EULEX and canceling of parallel structures," Merkel was quoted as saying. When asked to comment Pristina's announcement that it could take certain moves in north Kosovo before the continuation of the dialogue with Belgrade, she said that unilateral moves should be prevented. For that reason, Germany wants to see the dialogue continued so the results of the talks could reduce the danger of unilateral moves, Merkel said at a joint press conference with Tadic. Merkel noted that there was no doubt that solving the issue of Kosovo was a long process, but that it would not be fair toward Serbia to bring accession talks near the end when the EU would say, now we realize we have a problem with Serbia with Kosovo. For that reason it is better to solve difficult questions today than to pospone them for tomorrow, said Merkel. Boris Tadic stated that Serbia is under no false impression that it can bring in a new conflict into the EU, but that it would be wrong to give the country an ultimatum to choose between the EU and Kosovo. I believe that the “Kosovo or the EU” policy is a wrong policy of ultimatums, which is not in keeping with the European values and thus should be avoided. The circumstances ask for an elastic and creative solution which would not hinder normal life of people, endanger the dignity of both Albanians and Serbs, and engender new threats for the neighboring countries, but would pave the European pathway, Tadic said. Sustainable solutions can be found, the Balkans can be “unbalkanized”, and a conflict-free approach is possible to the benefit of both the Balkans and the EU, he added. Moreover, my personal beliefs instruct me not to support any political solution which could trigger new conflicts and wars. There are no political circumstances which would make me accept such a solution, the Serbian president said. He mentioned acts of ethnic Albanian violence targeting and expelling Serbs in 2004, which changed ethnic structure, and said Kosovo Albanian government's sending of police units to the north in July was meant to change the situation on the ground. Statements from Pristina on Monday that they were "ready for new actions" was a part of that strategy, said he. "I expect the EU's clear stance on this. We find it unacceptable for those who conduct violence to be awarded," said he. unacceptable "Serbia wants a solution, it doesn't want to freeze the conflict. It wants free passage of goods and services. But it guards its integrity and has a Constitution and legal norms," noted he. Tadic also stated that the country was not seeking "an artificial road" ward EU membership, but equal standards as those required from other countries, adding that Serbia "can be Germany's reliable partner". The meeting between Tadic and Merkel was followed by a meeting of the two country's delegations. Merkel conferred with PM Mirko Cvetkovic. That meeting was attended by his deputies Ivica Dacic and Bozidar Djelic, as well as Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac and Economy Minister Nebojsa Ciric. Beside this, the German chancellor alsi meet with late PM Zoran Djindjic's window Ruzica and recipients of scholarships given by a fund that bears his name. (Tanjug) "Normalize relations" Angela Merkel was in Zagreb on Monday where she said that "all countries in South-East Europe can become members of the European Union as long as they fulfill the conditions for it" and underscored that "normalize relations with Kosovo was one of the conditions for Serbia". After meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, Merkel said a press conference that she was going to Belgrade with the message that "Serbia should look at Croatia which has fulfilled all the conditions for EU membership". "In anticipation of her upcoming visit to Pristina, Croatian Prime Minister Kosor said that "Kosovo was a reality" and that she was convinced that the Serbian government in Belgrade was also aware of that. She reiterated that Croatia supported the entry of Serbia and all of South-East Europe into the EU.

Serbian state officials meet with German chancellor

We believe that Serbia's place is in Europe. We acknowledge and commend the courage demonstrated on that road, Merkel said at a joint press conference with Tadic.

We see Serbia's future in the EU, and we will do everything in our power to help Serbia overcome possible obstacles in that pathway in line with the European principles.

She underlined that, as regards the Kosovo issue, progress should be made in relations between Belgrade and Priština.

"We pointed out that Serbia recognized Kosovo, while Serbia did not. That's a situation where progress is needed - results in direct dialogue, work of EULEX and canceling of parallel structures," Merkel was quoted as saying.

When asked to comment Priština's announcement that it could take certain moves in north Kosovo before the continuation of the dialogue with Belgrade, she said that unilateral moves should be prevented.

For that reason, Germany wants to see the dialogue continued so the results of the talks could reduce the danger of unilateral moves, Merkel said at a joint press conference with Tadić.

Merkel noted that there was no doubt that solving the issue of Kosovo was a long process, but that it would not be fair toward Serbia to bring accession talks near the end when the EU would say, now we realize we have a problem with Serbia with Kosovo.

For that reason it is better to solve difficult questions today than to pospone them for tomorrow, said Merkel.

Boris Tadić stated that Serbia is under no false impression that it can bring in a new conflict into the EU, but that it would be wrong to give the country an ultimatum to choose between the EU and Kosovo.

I believe that the “Kosovo or the EU” policy is a wrong policy of ultimatums, which is not in keeping with the European values and thus should be avoided. The circumstances ask for an elastic and creative solution which would not hinder normal life of people, endanger the dignity of both Albanians and Serbs, and engender new threats for the neighboring countries, but would pave the European pathway, Tadić said.

Sustainable solutions can be found, the Balkans can be “unbalkanized”, and a conflict-free approach is possible to the benefit of both the Balkans and the EU, he added.

Moreover, my personal beliefs instruct me not to support any political solution which could trigger new conflicts and wars. There are no political circumstances which would make me accept such a solution, the Serbian president said.

He mentioned acts of ethnic Albanian violence targeting and expelling Serbs in 2004, which changed ethnic structure, and said Kosovo Albanian government's sending of police units to the north in July was meant to change the situation on the ground.

Statements from Priština on Monday that they were "ready for new actions" was a part of that strategy, said he.

"I expect the EU's clear stance on this. We find it unacceptable for those who conduct violence to be awarded," said he.
unacceptable

"Serbia wants a solution, it doesn't want to freeze the conflict. It wants free passage of goods and services. But it guards its integrity and has a Constitution and legal norms," noted he.

Tadić also stated that the country was not seeking "an artificial road" ward EU membership, but equal standards as those required from other countries, adding that Serbia "can be Germany's reliable partner".

The meeting between Tadić and Merkel was followed by a meeting of the two country's delegations.

Merkel conferred with PM Mirko Cvetković. That meeting was attended by his deputies Ivica Dačić and Božidar Đelić, as well as Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac and Economy Minister Nebojša Ćirić.

Beside this, the German chancellor alsi meet with late PM Zoran Đinđić's window Ružica and recipients of scholarships given by a fund that bears his name.

"Normalize relations"

Angela Merkel was in Zagreb on Monday where she said that "all countries in South-East Europe can become members of the European Union as long as they fulfill the conditions for it" and underscored that "normalize relations with Kosovo was one of the conditions for Serbia".

After meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, Merkel said a press conference that she was going to Belgrade with the message that "Serbia should look at Croatia which has fulfilled all the conditions for EU membership".

"In anticipation of her upcoming visit to Priština, Croatian Prime Minister Kosor said that "Kosovo was a reality" and that she was convinced that the Serbian government in Belgrade was also aware of that. She reiterated that Croatia supported the entry of Serbia and all of South-East Europe into the EU.