"Reforms, cooperation, good neighborly relations"

Reforms, cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and good neighborly relations are Serbia’s obligations in continued EU integration. This is according to a statement made by EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton as she wrapped up her visit to Belgrade on Thursday. "Reforms, cooperation, good neighborly relations" Ashton stated after the meeting with the Serbian president and prime minister that she believed Belgrade would be a “reliable partner of the EU” in the continuation of the European integrations. She stressed that a long and difficult road of reforms was ahead of Serbia, which included completion of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, facing crimes from the past but also building of “good neighborly relations” in the region. Greeting the EU foreign policy chief on her first visit to Belgrade, Serbian President Boris Tadic expressed his wish that the EU candidacy application would be discussed as soon as possible. He assured her that Serbia “was searching for Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic on a daily basis with undiminished effort” and that the country was working on establishing the best possible relations with the states of the region, which Ashton had previously pointed out as prerequisites for the continuation of the European integrations. Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said after talking to the EU foreign policy chief that he had received assurances that Serbia would get a full support from the EU in its European integrations. “We have received solid assurance that the EU will give us support on the road of the European integrations and that it will a reliable partner to us in the time ahead,” the PM said. Ashton previously met with the representatives of civil society and media. Ashton, who is visiting Pristina on Friday, said on the occasion that she expected Belgrade’s cooperation in solving the practical issues in Kosovo. During her visit to Belgrade, the EU foreign policy chief praised the Serbian parliament’s initiative to adopt a resolution stating its position on the Srebrenica crime, noting that it was an important step toward “distancing from the crimes and ghosts of the past”. Ashton in Belgrade (Beta)

"Reforms, cooperation, good neighborly relations"

Ashton stated after the meeting with the Serbian president and prime minister that she believed Belgrade would be a “reliable partner of the EU” in the continuation of the European integrations.

She stressed that a long and difficult road of reforms was ahead of Serbia, which included completion of cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, facing crimes from the past but also building of “good neighborly relations” in the region.

Greeting the EU foreign policy chief on her first visit to Belgrade, Serbian President Boris Tadić expressed his wish that the EU candidacy application would be discussed as soon as possible.

He assured her that Serbia “was searching for Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić on a daily basis with undiminished effort” and that the country was working on establishing the best possible relations with the states of the region, which Ashton had previously pointed out as prerequisites for the continuation of the European integrations.

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković said after talking to the EU foreign policy chief that he had received assurances that Serbia would get a full support from the EU in its European integrations.

“We have received solid assurance that the EU will give us support on the road of the European integrations and that it will a reliable partner to us in the time ahead,” the PM said.

Ashton previously met with the representatives of civil society and media.

Ashton, who is visiting Priština on Friday, said on the occasion that she expected Belgrade’s cooperation in solving the practical issues in Kosovo.

During her visit to Belgrade, the EU foreign policy chief praised the Serbian parliament’s initiative to adopt a resolution stating its position on the Srebrenica crime, noting that it was an important step toward “distancing from the crimes and ghosts of the past”.