Italian FM talks EU, Hague, organ probe

Serbian Deputy PM Bozidar Djelic said Monday that Serbia will endeavor for full cooperation with the Hague. Serbia will pursue reforms in order to get the status of European Union membership candidate by the end of this year, Djelic told a joint press conference with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini in Belgrade. Italian FM talks EU, Hague, organ probe In December, Italy will support Serbia's bid for getting EU candidate status and setting a date for starting accession negotiations, the ministers said. Serbia will do everything this year to prevent illegal emigration and will continue to attract foreign investors, such as Italy's Fiat and Benetton, Djelic said. Serbia and Italy have very close economic and financial ties, he said. Frattini said that Italy will continue to support Serbia's EU integration and fostering of bilateral relations. Serbia was among the first countries to accept the invitation by Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to take part in the Expo 2015 in Milan, he said. Frattini also noted that Italian investors would continue to come to Serbia and take part in planned infrastructure and economic projects. Earlier in the day, Frattini met with his Serbia counterpart Vuk Jeremic, when it was heard that Serbia was expected to become a candidate for EU membership by the end of the year and that a date would be set for the start of the accession negotiations. Commenting on whether Italy would be in favor of Serbia getting the status of a membership candidate should it fail to arrest war crimes indictee Ratko Mladic, Frattini said that there was one set of requirements for all who wanted to join the EU and they could not be changed on the go, but that Serbia's integration had to be backed by cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and the next visit by Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz would be important in that respect. "Cooperation with the Hague will help Serbia's EU integration, and the results of that seem better every day," the Italian official remarked. Italy will continue to be the greatest advocate of Serbia's integration, he stressed, adding that "everyone in the EU was impressed" with the government's speed in answering the European Commission questionnaire. It is an example of commitment by President Boris Tadic and the pro-European coalition in power, Frattini argued. At a joint press conference, the ministers referred to the report of Council of Europe Rapporteur Dick Marty on human organ trafficking in Kosovo and urged a serious and independent international investigation. The report can be the basis for an investigation that would lead to the full truth, Frattini believes. The inquiry has to be extensive, involve international supervision and leave no misgivings whatsoever, Jeremic stated. They also announced the holding of an Italian-Serbian summit in May in Belgrade. The two described the relations between Serbia and Italy as excellent. Frattini noted that Italian investors would continue to come to Serbia. Frattini was also received by Serbian President Boris Tadic, whose cabinet afterwards issued a statement that the meeting focused on fostering of bilateral relations in keeping with the agreement on strategic partnership the two countries have signed. "Tadic thanked Frattini for Italy's support to Serbia's EU integration," his office said. The meeting also focused on Italian investments in Serbia, the upcoming dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and regional issues, the statement said. Franco Frattini and Bozidar Djelic (Beta) "Excellent" While addressing reporters in Belgrade, Franco Frattini was also asked about the recent scandals linked to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and what influence they had on Italy's image. Frattini told his joint news conference with Bozidar Djelic that that issue "is not a topic for talks with foreign officials". "This is something that concerns above all the Italian public, which is getting a little tired of such issues," Frattini was quoted as saying. "The main topics of talks in Italy, and especially abroad, should be the country's political, economic and other interests and how they should be realized," he said. Djelic for his part emphasized that Italy's image in Serbia and the Balkans was excellent. "Serbia and the Balkans see Italy as a privileged partner and want to foster relations in all ways," he said.

Italian FM talks EU, Hague, organ probe

In December, Italy will support Serbia's bid for getting EU candidate status and setting a date for starting accession negotiations, the ministers said.

Serbia will do everything this year to prevent illegal emigration and will continue to attract foreign investors, such as Italy's Fiat and Benetton, Đelić said.

Serbia and Italy have very close economic and financial ties, he said.

Frattini said that Italy will continue to support Serbia's EU integration and fostering of bilateral relations.

Serbia was among the first countries to accept the invitation by Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to take part in the Expo 2015 in Milan, he said.

Frattini also noted that Italian investors would continue to come to Serbia and take part in planned infrastructure and economic projects.

Earlier in the day, Frattini met with his Serbia counterpart Vuk Jeremić, when it was heard that Serbia was expected to become a candidate for EU membership by the end of the year and that a date would be set for the start of the accession negotiations.

Commenting on whether Italy would be in favor of Serbia getting the status of a membership candidate should it fail to arrest war crimes indictee Ratko Mladić, Frattini said that there was one set of requirements for all who wanted to join the EU and they could not be changed on the go, but that Serbia's integration had to be backed by cooperation with the Hague Tribunal and the next visit by Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz would be important in that respect.

"Cooperation with the Hague will help Serbia's EU integration, and the results of that seem better every day," the Italian official remarked.

Italy will continue to be the greatest advocate of Serbia's integration, he stressed, adding that "everyone in the EU was impressed" with the government's speed in answering the European Commission questionnaire.

It is an example of commitment by President Boris Tadić and the pro-European coalition in power, Frattini argued.

At a joint press conference, the ministers referred to the report of Council of Europe Rapporteur Dick Marty on human organ trafficking in Kosovo and urged a serious and independent international investigation.

The report can be the basis for an investigation that would lead to the full truth, Frattini believes.

The inquiry has to be extensive, involve international supervision and leave no misgivings whatsoever, Jeremić stated.

They also announced the holding of an Italian-Serbian summit in May in Belgrade.

The two described the relations between Serbia and Italy as excellent. Frattini noted that Italian investors would continue to come to Serbia.

Frattini was also received by Serbian President Boris Tadić, whose cabinet afterwards issued a statement that the meeting focused on fostering of bilateral relations in keeping with the agreement on strategic partnership the two countries have signed.

"Tadić thanked Frattini for Italy's support to Serbia's EU integration," his office said.

The meeting also focused on Italian investments in Serbia, the upcoming dialogue between Belgrade and Priština and regional issues, the statement said.

"Excellent"

While addressing reporters in Belgrade, Franco Frattini was also asked about the recent scandals linked to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and what influence they had on Italy's image.

Frattini told his joint news conference with Božidar Đelić that that issue "is not a topic for talks with foreign officials".

"This is something that concerns above all the Italian public, which is getting a little tired of such issues," Frattini was quoted as saying.

"The main topics of talks in Italy, and especially abroad, should be the country's political, economic and other interests and how they should be realized," he said.

Đelić for his part emphasized that Italy's image in Serbia and the Balkans was excellent.

"Serbia and the Balkans see Italy as a privileged partner and want to foster relations in all ways," he said.