FM: Candidacy decision after consultations

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told B92 TV that a decision will be made on Serbia’s EU candidacy application after consultations are held with European partners. Despite the many statements by state officials that Serbia would submit its application for candidate-status by the end of the year, Jeremic – who said so himself earlier – now says that such a decision has not been made yet. FM: Candidacy decision after consultations He told B92 that the final decision could be made after consultations with European partners, and talks between senior government officials. “The act itself of applying for candidacy is a political act which demonstrates that the debates on the topic are finished. We finished the domestic debate on what direction we are headed – we are heading towards EU integrations. The international debate will be finished when Serbia submits its candidacy application. The decision has not yet been made on when this will be,” Jeremic said. “We will make the decision after careful consultations with all European partners, after consultations between Serbia’s senior officials, but no one can question any longer whether Serbia is moving towards full-fledged EU membership after the unfreezing of the interim trade agreement,” Jeremic said. The minister did not respond directly to the question of whether the government will be presenting a declaration on Srebrenica to the parliament for adoption. There were unofficial indications that this might happen. He said that the government gave its stance on these war crimes four years ago. “As far as Srebrenica is concerned, this country and state institutions took a very clear stance. President Boris Tadic visited Srebrenica in 2005, the 10-year anniversary of the crimes, and made an important gesture which shows the official stance of our state institutions regarding that question,” Jeremic said. A file photo of Vuk Jeremic (Tanjug)

FM: Candidacy decision after consultations

He told B92 that the final decision could be made after consultations with European partners, and talks between senior government officials.

“The act itself of applying for candidacy is a political act which demonstrates that the debates on the topic are finished. We finished the domestic debate on what direction we are headed – we are heading towards EU integrations. The international debate will be finished when Serbia submits its candidacy application. The decision has not yet been made on when this will be,” Jeremić said.

“We will make the decision after careful consultations with all European partners, after consultations between Serbia’s senior officials, but no one can question any longer whether Serbia is moving towards full-fledged EU membership after the unfreezing of the interim trade agreement,” Jeremić said.

The minister did not respond directly to the question of whether the government will be presenting a declaration on Srebrenica to the parliament for adoption. There were unofficial indications that this might happen.

He said that the government gave its stance on these war crimes four years ago.

“As far as Srebrenica is concerned, this country and state institutions took a very clear stance. President Boris Tadić visited Srebrenica in 2005, the 10-year anniversary of the crimes, and made an important gesture which shows the official stance of our state institutions regarding that question,” Jeremić said.