Tadić "optimistic" ahead of candidate decision

Serbian President Boris Tadic stated on Friday he could not say that Serbia would get the EU candidate status on December 9 but that it would fight for it. He noted that he was optimistic, but also aware of the dangers and risks of the entire process. Tadic "optimistic" ahead of candidate decision “Serbia will fight to get the candidate status, which is very important for its chances of becoming a member of the EU later,” he added. Tadic met with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy during his stay in Brussels on Friday. “The Serbian public should not be told that the candidate status will certainly be granted, since that is not true,” he remarked. “There is enough time until December 9, which is why Serbia needs to do its part, he continued. Serbia will definitely do it and expects its European partners to recognize that and for each EU member to display a constructive approach,” the Serbian president added. Tadic stated he was pleased with the openness of his talks with Van Rompuy, adding that the general atmosphere regarding EU enlargement in times of economic crisis was not the best and EU's economic problems were not helping Serbia. “Despite that we expect that all 27 member states will have a positive approach bearing in mind the December 9 session,” he noted. He said that the open issue of the Belgrade-Pristina technical dialogue was a search for solutions which were at the table today. “We have reached several important agreements, and the Serbian government is working on their implementation. On the other hand, we hope that a solution will be found for Pristina's participation in regional forums. Serbia has proposed a few constructive solutions in keeping with principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. We hope that we will be able to agree on these solutions,” Tadic stressed. The Serbian president said that he and Van Rompuy had discussed the northern Kosovo crisis. “We spoke about the KFOR soldiers who were injured in the last few days and the fact that this can in no way contribute to achieving the candidate status and the overall dialogue,” Tadic said. According to him, this is a fact which creates a nearly unbearable atmosphere. “Therefore, I urge Serbs in northern Kosovo, KFOR soldiers, EULEX and Pristina to show maximum restraint not only in these days but in future as well,” the president pointed out. He underlined that it was only through restraint, peaceful and rational approach that we could find solutions for the problems dating from our distant past. Tadic believes that a solution for the Albanian-Serbian conflict in Kosovo could be found if everyone tackled the issue rationally, with enough responsibility, and explored all possible options carefully. “These options should benefit Serbs, Albanians and the EU, but also respect that Belgrade will not recognize Kosovo's independence,” the president said. Tadic and Van Rompuy also talked about the economic crisis which is hitting all the EU member states and Serbia since its economy is highly dependent on that of the EU. “The crisis is rather deep. This is its second wave and it will hit Serbia as well as countries which are far richer than Serbia,” the Serbian president explained. As regards the economic relations between Serbia and the EU, he said that at the meeting he got support for their further improvement. “Nevertheless, nowadays it is clear that all countries should look for new markets, he stressed. Serbia has been working hard on finding alternative solutions, but that process cannot be completed in just one day,” Tadic concluded. Van Rompuy expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue but also pointed out the importance of the implementation of the agreements that had already been agreed. “Even though we recognize the latest results of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue I have encouraged President Tadic to make additional steps in order to convince all EU member states that Serbia is seriously committed to the dialogue and that it is implementing the solutions that have been reached so far,” he said in a statement. Van Rompuy repeated that regional cooperation and good neighborly relations were an essential part of the EU enlargement process and that Brussels would assess every country that wished to join the Union based fair and just criteria. The European Council president once again confirmed that the EU was committed to the integration of the Western Balkan states and that it that way wanted to contribute to strengthening of peace, democracy and stability in Europe. He also pointed to the Serbian president’s personal merits in Serbia’s efforts to fulfill the economic and political criteria in order to obtain the EU candidate status. Van Rompuy confirmed that the European Council would discuss European Commission (EC) opinion that Serbia should be given the candidate status on December 9. Tadic will also take part in the Party of European Socialists (PES) convention, in his standing as the leader of the Democratic Party, which is an associated member of PES. The PES convention, which brings together Europe's socialist, social democratic and labor parties, will take place November 25 and 26, while a meeting of the PES Presidency and Council will be held Thursday, November 24, the party published on its website. The PES is made up primarily of parties from EU member countries, but also includes parties from other European countries. All PES members are also members of the Socialist International. From the Western Balkans, associated parties include the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Social Democratic Party of Croatia, the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro and the Social Democratic Party of Montenegro, and Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, while member parties are the Romanian Social Democratic Party, Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Greek Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement. Boris Tadic and Herman Van Rompuy (Tanjug)

Tadić "optimistic" ahead of candidate decision

“Serbia will fight to get the candidate status, which is very important for its chances of becoming a member of the EU later,” he added.

Tadić met with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy during his stay in Brussels on Friday.

“The Serbian public should not be told that the candidate status will certainly be granted, since that is not true,” he remarked.

“There is enough time until December 9, which is why Serbia needs to do its part, he continued. Serbia will definitely do it and expects its European partners to recognize that and for each EU member to display a constructive approach,” the Serbian president added.

Tadić stated he was pleased with the openness of his talks with Van Rompuy, adding that the general atmosphere regarding EU enlargement in times of economic crisis was not the best and EU's economic problems were not helping Serbia.

“Despite that we expect that all 27 member states will have a positive approach bearing in mind the December 9 session,” he noted.

He said that the open issue of the Belgrade-Priština technical dialogue was a search for solutions which were at the table today.

“We have reached several important agreements, and the Serbian government is working on their implementation. On the other hand, we hope that a solution will be found for Pristina's participation in regional forums. Serbia has proposed a few constructive solutions in keeping with principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1244. We hope that we will be able to agree on these solutions,” Tadić stressed.

The Serbian president said that he and Van Rompuy had discussed the northern Kosovo crisis.

“We spoke about the KFOR soldiers who were injured in the last few days and the fact that this can in no way contribute to achieving the candidate status and the overall dialogue,” Tadić said.

According to him, this is a fact which creates a nearly unbearable atmosphere.

“Therefore, I urge Serbs in northern Kosovo, KFOR soldiers, EULEX and Priština to show maximum restraint not only in these days but in future as well,” the president pointed out.

He underlined that it was only through restraint, peaceful and rational approach that we could find solutions for the problems dating from our distant past.

Tadić believes that a solution for the Albanian-Serbian conflict in Kosovo could be found if everyone tackled the issue rationally, with enough responsibility, and explored all possible options carefully. “These options should benefit Serbs, Albanians and the EU, but also respect that Belgrade will not recognize Kosovo's independence,” the president said.

Tadić and Van Rompuy also talked about the economic crisis which is hitting all the EU member states and Serbia since its economy is highly dependent on that of the EU.

“The crisis is rather deep. This is its second wave and it will hit Serbia as well as countries which are far richer than Serbia,” the Serbian president explained.

As regards the economic relations between Serbia and the EU, he said that at the meeting he got support for their further improvement.

“Nevertheless, nowadays it is clear that all countries should look for new markets, he stressed. Serbia has been working hard on finding alternative solutions, but that process cannot be completed in just one day,” Tadić concluded.

Van Rompuy expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the Belgrade-Priština dialogue but also pointed out the importance of the implementation of the agreements that had already been agreed.

“Even though we recognize the latest results of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue I have encouraged President Tadić to make additional steps in order to convince all EU member states that Serbia is seriously committed to the dialogue and that it is implementing the solutions that have been reached so far,” he said in a statement.

Van Rompuy repeated that regional cooperation and good neighborly relations were an essential part of the EU enlargement process and that Brussels would assess every country that wished to join the Union based fair and just criteria.

The European Council president once again confirmed that the EU was committed to the integration of the Western Balkan states and that it that way wanted to contribute to strengthening of peace, democracy and stability in Europe.

He also pointed to the Serbian president’s personal merits in Serbia’s efforts to fulfill the economic and political criteria in order to obtain the EU candidate status.

Van Rompuy confirmed that the European Council would discuss European Commission (EC) opinion that Serbia should be given the candidate status on December 9.

Tadić will also take part in the Party of European Socialists (PES) convention, in his standing as the leader of the Democratic Party, which is an associated member of PES.

The PES convention, which brings together Europe's socialist, social democratic and labor parties, will take place November 25 and 26, while a meeting of the PES Presidency and Council will be held Thursday, November 24, the party published on its website.

The PES is made up primarily of parties from EU member countries, but also includes parties from other European countries. All PES members are also members of the Socialist International.

From the Western Balkans, associated parties include the Social Democratic Party of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Social Democratic Party of Croatia, the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro and the Social Democratic Party of Montenegro, and Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, while member parties are the Romanian Social Democratic Party, Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Greek Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement.