“Serbia can achieve its goals”

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns has stated that the U.S. strongly supports Serbia’s EU candidacy bid. He expressed belief that Serbia could achieve the goal in the following weeks. “Serbia can achieve its goals” Burns met with Serbian President Boris Tadic, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac and Economy Minister Nebojsa Ciric in Belgrade. “We strongly support Serbia’s EU candidacy bid. We believe that the goal can be achieved in the next several weeks. And even though we have no say in the Union, we will do everything in power to encourage the decision,” Burns told Radio Television of Serbia (RTS). He stressed that he and the Serbian officials had discussed ways for Serbia to get the EU candidate status, adding he hoped Serbia would fulfill its obligations in order to achieve the goal. When asked about Tadic’s four point plan for Kosovo, Burns said he did not have an opportunity to discuss the plan in detail but that it reflected Serbia’s commitment to the dialogue “that will make way for the improvement of lives of the people in the region”. According to him, this is an important and a pragmatic approach to the issue. “This time my goal was a mid-term step, to get the candidate status, because as I have already said, the step would open many new possibilities, not only in relations between Serbia and the EU, but also in relations in the region and relations with the U.S.,” the deputy secretary of state pointed out. He noted that U.S. and Serbia’s bilateral relations had been significantly improved in the last several years. “Our militaries cooperate well. We support Serbia’s increasing participation in peacekeeping missions, exchange of people in education and we hope to expand economic cooperation in the following period as well,” Burns concluded. (sxc.hu) RTS Tanjug

“Serbia can achieve its goals”

Burns met with Serbian President Boris Tadić, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac and Economy Minister Nebojša Ćirić in Belgrade.

“We strongly support Serbia’s EU candidacy bid. We believe that the goal can be achieved in the next several weeks. And even though we have no say in the Union, we will do everything in power to encourage the decision,” Burns told Radio Television of Serbia (RTS).

He stressed that he and the Serbian officials had discussed ways for Serbia to get the EU candidate status, adding he hoped Serbia would fulfill its obligations in order to achieve the goal.

When asked about Tadić’s four point plan for Kosovo, Burns said he did not have an opportunity to discuss the plan in detail but that it reflected Serbia’s commitment to the dialogue “that will make way for the improvement of lives of the people in the region”.

According to him, this is an important and a pragmatic approach to the issue.

“This time my goal was a mid-term step, to get the candidate status, because as I have already said, the step would open many new possibilities, not only in relations between Serbia and the EU, but also in relations in the region and relations with the U.S.,” the deputy secretary of state pointed out.

He noted that U.S. and Serbia’s bilateral relations had been significantly improved in the last several years.

“Our militaries cooperate well. We support Serbia’s increasing participation in peacekeeping missions, exchange of people in education and we hope to expand economic cooperation in the following period as well,” Burns concluded.