Đelić sets year for EU membership

Deputy PM Bozidar Djelic told a Belgrade newspaper he believes Serbia will become a full-fledged EU member in 2014. "There are no overnight revolutions in European integrations. It's a long and painstaking process. But, I am exceptionally determined and absolutely dedicated to this issue," Djelic said in an interview published by Vecernje Novosti on Saturday. Djelic sets year for EU membership "The Dutch UN ambassador told me that his country's position remains firm – Holland expects Ratko Mladic's arrest and extradition in order to vote for the unfreezing of the SAA. Also, Europe is facing internal organizational problems, with the biggest economic crisis since the Second World War, but also with other global issues," explained the minister. "For this reason, we must be aware we are not at the center of attention of the EU. Still, we have Brussels' support and full Hague cooperation would bring with it instant movement. Because, there are no other conditions but the Hague," Djelic was quoted as saying by the newspaper. Asked whether cooperation with EULEX was a new condition for Serbia, he said that the issue of the EU mission in Kosovo never came up during his visits to Brussels, which, according to him, shows that European integrations and Kosovo are two separate processes. "If someone wishes to set Kosovo as a condition or blackmail us, we will not accept it. If we must choose, we will choose the defense of our territorial integrity," Djelic said, and proceeded to quote EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn who said that Serbia can expect to become an EU candidate in 2009. "And, when it comes to membership – we will be in the EU in 2014. I have often been criticized for giving deadlines, but we must set them and gain the initiative, in order to exert pressure both on European partners and our institutions. If I had never imposed the deadlines, the EU would have never given the dates," he continued. The deputy premier also denied that the recent affair concerning the natural gas price hikes had shaken the ranks of the government, put together last summer. The Ministry of Energy will next week report on how Serbia ended up losing a 25-percent stake in Jugorosgas, he said, and added that the government is negotiating the details of the gas agreement, and that there are no new moments that could jeopardize its position in the talks. Asked if the affair could have a negative impact on the strategic Russo-Serbian energy deal, Djelic said that Serbia is "a serious country that implements arrangements agreed upon, which does not mean we should not fight for our interests, just as the Russians are fighting for theirs". "We have a common interests, and that is this gas and oil agreement," he concluded.

Đelić sets year for EU membership

"The Dutch UN ambassador told me that his country's position remains firm – Holland expects Ratko Mladić's arrest and extradition in order to vote for the unfreezing of the SAA. Also, Europe is facing internal organizational problems, with the biggest economic crisis since the Second World War, but also with other global issues," explained the minister.

"For this reason, we must be aware we are not at the center of attention of the EU. Still, we have Brussels' support and full Hague cooperation would bring with it instant movement. Because, there are no other conditions but the Hague," Đelić was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Asked whether cooperation with EULEX was a new condition for Serbia, he said that the issue of the EU mission in Kosovo never came up during his visits to Brussels, which, according to him, shows that European integrations and Kosovo are two separate processes.

"If someone wishes to set Kosovo as a condition or blackmail us, we will not accept it. If we must choose, we will choose the defense of our territorial integrity," Đelić said, and proceeded to quote EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn who said that Serbia can expect to become an EU candidate in 2009.

"And, when it comes to membership – we will be in the EU in 2014. I have often been criticized for giving deadlines, but we must set them and gain the initiative, in order to exert pressure both on European partners and our institutions. If I had never imposed the deadlines, the EU would have never given the dates," he continued.

The deputy premier also denied that the recent affair concerning the natural gas price hikes had shaken the ranks of the government, put together last summer.

The Ministry of Energy will next week report on how Serbia ended up losing a 25-percent stake in Jugorosgas, he said, and added that the government is negotiating the details of the gas agreement, and that there are no new moments that could jeopardize its position in the talks.

Asked if the affair could have a negative impact on the strategic Russo-Serbian energy deal, Đelić said that Serbia is "a serious country that implements arrangements agreed upon, which does not mean we should not fight for our interests, just as the Russians are fighting for theirs".

"We have a common interests, and that is this gas and oil agreement," he concluded.