Đelić: EU proposal equals membership offer

Deputy PM Božidar Đelić says the EU's proposal of an interim political deal amounts to a membership offer.

Izvor: Beta

Wednesday, 30.01.2008.

09:08

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Deputy PM Bozidar Djelic says the EU's proposal of an interim political deal amounts to a membership offer. "This is the first time that all of the EU countries are behind an initiative. All 27 have said that Serbia will become a member and have proposed signing an agreement on Feb. 7 that will serve as a basis for continued work in that direction," Djelic told reporters Tuesday, Beta news agency reported. Djelic: EU proposal equals membership offer On Jan. 28, the EU offered Serbia a political deal on cooperation in trade, business, and education, and travel liberalization. Djelic went on to say, "I am convinced that the citizens of Serbia will in the Feb. 3 presidential runoff support the signing of this provisional agreement on Feb. 7." Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic also likened the political deal to an offer of EU membership. "If Serbia opts for the path to Europe, it will have an opportunity on Feb. 7 to sign an agreement formally opening the door to full EU membership," he added. Rasim Ljajic, head of the National Council on Cooperation with the ICTY, said yesterday that the proposal will not be signed if an anti-European presidential candidate wins the election, referring to the Radical party's Tomislav Nikolic. "When you read between the lines, the agreement means that the EU is going to wait to see what happens on Feb. 3 and if the outcome is the victory of the candidate who is opposed to EU entry, then nothing will come of the agreement," he added. Political analysts in Belgrade agree that the proposal is somewhat supportive of incumbent president and Democratic Party candidate Boris Tadic, although they differ on how strongly Brussels has endorsed Tadic. Bozidar Djelic (FoNet, archive)

Đelić: EU proposal equals membership offer

On Jan. 28, the EU offered Serbia a political deal on cooperation in trade, business, and education, and travel liberalization.

Đelić went on to say, "I am convinced that the citizens of Serbia will in the Feb. 3 presidential runoff support the signing of this provisional agreement on Feb. 7."

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić also likened the political deal to an offer of EU membership.

"If Serbia opts for the path to Europe, it will have an opportunity on Feb. 7 to sign an agreement formally opening the door to full EU membership," he added.

Rasim Ljajić, head of the National Council on Cooperation with the ICTY, said yesterday that the proposal will not be signed if an anti-European presidential candidate wins the election, referring to the Radical party's Tomislav Nikolić.

"When you read between the lines, the agreement means that the EU is going to wait to see what happens on Feb. 3 and if the outcome is the victory of the candidate who is opposed to EU entry, then nothing will come of the agreement," he added.

Political analysts in Belgrade agree that the proposal is somewhat supportive of incumbent president and Democratic Party candidate Boris Tadić, although they differ on how strongly Brussels has endorsed Tadić.

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