"Date depends on reforms and Kosovo talks"

BELGRADE EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule says that giving Serbia a date for the start of its EU talks depended on "reforms and the dialogue with Pristina". Fule made the statement in Belgrade on Monday after his meeting with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, who, speaking about the latter condition, noted that the country "can do neither more nor less than the resolution (on Kosovo)". "Date depends on reforms and Kosovo talks" Nikolic told the EU official that Serbia "rightfully believes it deserves to get a starting date for accession talks with the EU". "I told him Serbia has done a lot, is open to doing even more, and rightfully believes it should begin talks with the EU," Nikolic told a joint news conference. He said Serbia is open to an ongoing dialogue with the EU and is doing everything to ensure the European Commission is able to send positive recommendations to the national parliaments of EU member countries. Nikolic said he welcomed Fule as a friend and a politician who has helped Serbia a great deal in the European integration process to date. In addition to the progress in reforms, Nikolic also informed him about the state of the dialogue with Pristina. He added that after the meeting in Belgrade, Fule has "a clearer picture" of everything and is going to Pristina to hear what representatives of Kosovo institutions have to say about the dialogue. "We started the dialogue with utter sincerity and the desire to bring order to the region and ensure peace, security and prosperity," said the Serbian president. Nikolic said his own assessment of the results of the Brussels' dialogue does not differ from that of Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, except for the fact that he expressed optimism regarding the response to the Serbian parliament's resolution on Kosovo, while Dacic, who has had more contact with Pristina, warned that "things will not go so smoothly." Nikolic noted that in the talks with Pristina, Serbia "can do no more and no less than what is contained in the Serbian parliament's resolution, and the other side needs to give in order to reach an agreement." "There will be no surprises from the state leaderships and there is no weak link in this team," said the Serbian president. “In case of a negative response (to the resolution), you can be certain that the prime minister and I will announce that the talks have come to a dead end but this will not happen because Serbia did not made any concessions, since it did,” Nikolic explained. Stefan Fule told the news conference whether Serbia would be granted a starting date for EU entry talks depends on reforms and the progress achieved in the dialogue with Pristina. "I know that you are all interested in whether Serbia would get a starting date for EU entry talks in June. The answer to that question depends on the efforts to implement reforms and whether the visible and sustainable progress would be achieved in the relations with Kosovo," Fule stated. The EU commissioner praised the progress achieved in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, but did not give an explicit answer as to whether Serbia would obtain a starting date for EU accession talks in June. Fule welcomed the new dynamic in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the breakthrough that was achieved by the meeting between Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and voiced hope that significant results would be achieved in the next rounds. He said that that a report of the European Commission on Serbia's progress that was due to be published on April 16 will encompass all that had been achieved in carrying out the reforms. However, the EU enlargement commissioner noted that Serbia had to intensify the reform process in certain areas such as the judiciary, adoption of anti-corruption strategies, media freedom and inclusion of vulnerable groups. After Belgrade, where he will also meet with PM Dacic and his first deputy Aleksandar Vucic, Fule will travel to Pristina. (Tanjug) Tanjug

"Date depends on reforms and Kosovo talks"

Nikolić told the EU official that Serbia "rightfully believes it deserves to get a starting date for accession talks with the EU".

"I told him Serbia has done a lot, is open to doing even more, and rightfully believes it should begin talks with the EU," Nikolić told a joint news conference.

He said Serbia is open to an ongoing dialogue with the EU and is doing everything to ensure the European Commission is able to send positive recommendations to the national parliaments of EU member countries.

Nikolić said he welcomed Fule as a friend and a politician who has helped Serbia a great deal in the European integration process to date. In addition to the progress in reforms, Nikolić also informed him about the state of the dialogue with Priština.

He added that after the meeting in Belgrade, Fule has "a clearer picture" of everything and is going to Priština to hear what representatives of Kosovo institutions have to say about the dialogue.

"We started the dialogue with utter sincerity and the desire to bring order to the region and ensure peace, security and prosperity," said the Serbian president.

Nikolić said his own assessment of the results of the Brussels' dialogue does not differ from that of Prime Minister Ivica Dačić, except for the fact that he expressed optimism regarding the response to the Serbian parliament's resolution on Kosovo, while Dacic, who has had more contact with Priština, warned that "things will not go so smoothly."

Nikolić noted that in the talks with Priština, Serbia "can do no more and no less than what is contained in the Serbian parliament's resolution, and the other side needs to give in order to reach an agreement."

"There will be no surprises from the state leaderships and there is no weak link in this team," said the Serbian president.

“In case of a negative response (to the resolution), you can be certain that the prime minister and I will announce that the talks have come to a dead end but this will not happen because Serbia did not made any concessions, since it did,” Nikolić explained.

Stefan Fule told the news conference whether Serbia would be granted a starting date for EU entry talks depends on reforms and the progress achieved in the dialogue with Priština.

"I know that you are all interested in whether Serbia would get a starting date for EU entry talks in June. The answer to that question depends on the efforts to implement reforms and whether the visible and sustainable progress would be achieved in the relations with Kosovo," Fule stated.

The EU commissioner praised the progress achieved in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue, but did not give an explicit answer as to whether Serbia would obtain a starting date for EU accession talks in June.

Fule welcomed the new dynamic in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue and the breakthrough that was achieved by the meeting between Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga and voiced hope that significant results would be achieved in the next rounds.

He said that that a report of the European Commission on Serbia's progress that was due to be published on April 16 will encompass all that had been achieved in carrying out the reforms.

However, the EU enlargement commissioner noted that Serbia had to intensify the reform process in certain areas such as the judiciary, adoption of anti-corruption strategies, media freedom and inclusion of vulnerable groups.

After Belgrade, where he will also meet with PM Dačić and his first deputy Aleksandar Vučić, Fule will travel to Priština.