FM: Priorities EU, reforms, region, and Kosovo

EU integration, regional cooperation and resolution of the Kosovo issue will continue to be the top priorities Serbia's foreign policy in 2012. This is according to Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who spoke at the opening of the Ambassadors' Conference in the Palace of Serbia, which has gathered Serbia's ambassadors worldwide. FM: Priorities EU, reforms, region, and Kosovo Jeremic underlined that it is of utmost importance for the entire nation to achieve each one of the foreign policy goals without sacrificing one for the other. Serbia's objective is to achieve European standards, fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, no matter when the EU may reach consensus on the next formal steps on the road of Serbia's European integration. Despite the crisis in the EU, the greatest challenge in terms of the faith in the European project which will undoubtedly have an impact on the Balkans, Serbia is committed to integration, he underlined, stressing that "nothing can affected the government's strategic determination to drop Serbia's anchor in the EU." He recalled that at the beginning of its mandate, the Serbian government defined four diplomatic pillars - Euro-integration process, regional harmony, just and sustainable solution to the Kosovo issue and boosting of economic cooperation with the world. "During our mandate, we pursued a consistent foreign policy of principle on those very foundations, under very difficult circumstances. Now it is evident that relevant political factors in Serbia have reached consensus on four foreign policy priorities," Jeremic assessed. Speaking about the process of reconciliation in the Balkans, Jeremic announced that Serbia's regional activities in 2012, the year that marks the 100th anniversary of First Balkan War, will be held under the slogan 'From Balkan wars to peace in the Balkans', which he hopes would unite efforts towards that aim. Expressing gratitude to all countries that showed solidarity with Serbia in terms of Kosovo, Jeremic pointed out that Serbia's stance on Kosovo and UN SC Resolution 1244 would not change, as that would set a grave precedent which would encourage separatism worldwide. Portas and Jeremic at the start of the conference (Tanjug) "EU incomplete without Balkans and Serbia" Serbia belongs in Europe and the EU would remain an incomplete project without the Balkans and Serbia, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Portas stated on Monday. In his address to Serbian ambassadors at the fifth annual conference in Belgrade, Portas underscored that Serbia's EU path would not be easy and that Belgrade is facing decisions which call for considerable responsibility and risks which can be tackled only by a courageous leadership. We believe in Serbia's pro-European leaders who have demonstrated that they are prepared to take on that responsibility, the Portuguese minister stated. Portas underscored that European leaders are committed to offering Serbia and the Balkans an unambiguous EU membership perspective, and expressed belief that the time for Serbia and its European integration has come. The EU would remain an incomplete project until the Balkans become a part of it, and Europe without the Balkans is pointless and represents an incomplete project which needs to be finished, Portas stated and added that there can be no Balkans without Serbia and no Europe without Serbia. He recalled Portugal's long EU path and the fact that the country applied for membership in 1977 and was granted membership in 1986. Speaking from its experience, Portugal knows just how difficult this path was, but it was worth it, he underscored. Participation in the process was worth the while and the country emerged more stable and prosperous upon its completion, Portas stated and added that Europe does not boil down to money, it also implies higher security and guarantees of peace, democracy and an open society. Portas noted that Europe means solidarity and sharing common values, and a chance for obtaining a voice in the world of growing giants. Serbia is facing a huge task embodied in fulfilment of conditions, and this process takes time, the Portuguese minister said and added that Serbia has demonstrated that it is capable of meeting the requirements. Pointing out that it is clear to everyone that the Kosovo issue is of key importance in the realisation of the joint goal of EU accession, Portas recalled that Portugal hesitated quite a while in the recognition of Kosovo's independence but that it does not regret the hesitation because everyone need to look for sustainable, lasting and peaceful solutions. Tanjug

FM: Priorities EU, reforms, region, and Kosovo

Jeremić underlined that it is of utmost importance for the entire nation to achieve each one of the foreign policy goals without sacrificing one for the other.

Serbia's objective is to achieve European standards, fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, no matter when the EU may reach consensus on the next formal steps on the road of Serbia's European integration.

Despite the crisis in the EU, the greatest challenge in terms of the faith in the European project which will undoubtedly have an impact on the Balkans, Serbia is committed to integration, he underlined, stressing that "nothing can affected the government's strategic determination to drop Serbia's anchor in the EU."

He recalled that at the beginning of its mandate, the Serbian government defined four diplomatic pillars - Euro-integration process, regional harmony, just and sustainable solution to the Kosovo issue and boosting of economic cooperation with the world.

"During our mandate, we pursued a consistent foreign policy of principle on those very foundations, under very difficult circumstances. Now it is evident that relevant political factors in Serbia have reached consensus on four foreign policy priorities," Jeremić assessed.

Speaking about the process of reconciliation in the Balkans, Jeremić announced that Serbia's regional activities in 2012, the year that marks the 100th anniversary of First Balkan War, will be held under the slogan 'From Balkan wars to peace in the Balkans', which he hopes would unite efforts towards that aim.

Expressing gratitude to all countries that showed solidarity with Serbia in terms of Kosovo, Jeremić pointed out that Serbia's stance on Kosovo and UN SC Resolution 1244 would not change, as that would set a grave precedent which would encourage separatism worldwide.

"EU incomplete without Balkans and Serbia"

Serbia belongs in Europe and the EU would remain an incomplete project without the Balkans and Serbia, Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Portas stated on Monday.

In his address to Serbian ambassadors at the fifth annual conference in Belgrade, Portas underscored that Serbia's EU path would not be easy and that Belgrade is facing decisions which call for considerable responsibility and risks which can be tackled only by a courageous leadership.

We believe in Serbia's pro-European leaders who have demonstrated that they are prepared to take on that responsibility, the Portuguese minister stated.

Portas underscored that European leaders are committed to offering Serbia and the Balkans an unambiguous EU membership perspective, and expressed belief that the time for Serbia and its European integration has come.

The EU would remain an incomplete project until the Balkans become a part of it, and Europe without the Balkans is pointless and represents an incomplete project which needs to be finished, Portas stated and added that there can be no Balkans without Serbia and no Europe without Serbia.

He recalled Portugal's long EU path and the fact that the country applied for membership in 1977 and was granted membership in 1986.

Speaking from its experience, Portugal knows just how difficult this path was, but it was worth it, he underscored.

Participation in the process was worth the while and the country emerged more stable and prosperous upon its completion, Portas stated and added that Europe does not boil down to money, it also implies higher security and guarantees of peace, democracy and an open society. Portas noted that Europe means solidarity and sharing common values, and a chance for obtaining a voice in the world of growing giants.

Serbia is facing a huge task embodied in fulfilment of conditions, and this process takes time, the Portuguese minister said and added that Serbia has demonstrated that it is capable of meeting the requirements.

Pointing out that it is clear to everyone that the Kosovo issue is of key importance in the realisation of the joint goal of EU accession, Portas recalled that Portugal hesitated quite a while in the recognition of Kosovo's independence but that it does not regret the hesitation because everyone need to look for sustainable, lasting and peaceful solutions.