Mrkić expects positive decision on starting date

BELGRADE Ivan Mrkic has stated that over the last few months Serbia conducted "a very coordinated and comprehensive diplomatic action aimed at all EU members." Therefore, the Serbian foreign minister said, he was certain that "a positive decision" would be made on the starting date for Serbia's EU membership talks. Mrkic expects positive decision on starting date Mrkic said in an interview for Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been "very active and that in the last ten months he met with 70 foreign ministers, 23 president and 15 prime ministers, adding that he is certain that this diplomatic activity will be fruitful." “Explicit support to Serbia, in one way or another, came from over 20 EU members. On the other hand, no country said that it is against granting a date,” Mrkic said. The minister said that "so far he got only good signals from Berlin." “It is understandable that there are individuals or groups who would like Serbia to get a stereotypical treatment including further pressures and blackmails, but this formula has turned out to be anachronistic and completely obsolete due to the moves and responsible behavior of our government,” Mrkic said. He added that if no date was set, "there will be no twists or review of the foreign policy." Mrkic said that no embassies or consulates will be closed, adding that Serbia's presence in Brussels should be stepped up while the ministry plans to open diplomatic headquarters in two Latin American countries and two countries in eastern Asia, "and maybe in one European country." (Beta, file) Tanjug Vecernje novosti

Mrkić expects positive decision on starting date

Mrkić said in an interview for Belgrade-based daily Večernje Novosti that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been "very active and that in the last ten months he met with 70 foreign ministers, 23 president and 15 prime ministers, adding that he is certain that this diplomatic activity will be fruitful."

“Explicit support to Serbia, in one way or another, came from over 20 EU members. On the other hand, no country said that it is against granting a date,” Mrkić said.

The minister said that "so far he got only good signals from Berlin."

“It is understandable that there are individuals or groups who would like Serbia to get a stereotypical treatment including further pressures and blackmails, but this formula has turned out to be anachronistic and completely obsolete due to the moves and responsible behavior of our government,” Mrkić said.

He added that if no date was set, "there will be no twists or review of the foreign policy."

Mrkić said that no embassies or consulates will be closed, adding that Serbia's presence in Brussels should be stepped up while the ministry plans to open diplomatic headquarters in two Latin American countries and two countries in eastern Asia, "and maybe in one European country."