Tadić expects date for accession talks by end of year

Serbian President Boris Tadic said in Belgrade on Friday that "Serbia expects to get a date for the start of EU accession talks by the end of the year. "We will achieve the substantial strategic goal only once we have received the date for the beginning of accession talks. Only then will our October 5 dreams come true," Tadic said at a session of the Serbian government Council for European Integration. Tadic expects date for accession talks by end of year He believes that Serbia's image "changed with the decision to be granted the status of a candidate for EU membership", and that it was "above all an achievement by its people". "All the governments since October 5, 2000, have made a contribution to the reforms, but this government faced great challenges, especially in view of the economic situation in Europe and the world, which has changed fundamentally," he said at a meeting of the council. The current government could not have picked a more difficult time to run the country, which is why the achievement is so great, not for the authorities, but for the people, he stressed. "The candidate status confirms we are going in a good direction," Tadic, who is also leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DS), concluded. Also on Friday in Belgrade, Tadic received Danish Minister for European Affairs Nikolai Wammen. "We are looking forward to friendship and cooperation with Serbia in the time to come," the Danish minister told a joint news conference. Wammen said that it was "completely clear that Serbia's course is the European one", and pointed out that the decision of EU heads of state and prime ministers "will primarily affect the perspectives for investments in Serbia". The Danish minister, whose country currently holds EU chairmanship, also "expressed gratitude to the Serbian president for his clear commitment to Serbia's European path". "I am certain that Europe would show its commitment to Serbia and this goal is in our common interest," he noted. Wammen added that Serbia was facing "difficult and serious talks and decisions", but that it was "clear that Serbia has a clearly defined path which leads to Europe". If reforms continue, Serbia will be on the right track, Wammen stated. The Serbian president expressed his gratitude to Wammen and the Danish government for their contribution to the political process which ended in Serbia winning the candidate status. He said that the process was followed by improvement of the quality of bilateral relations. He recalled that Denmark invested "considerable funds" in Serbia in the previous period. "We can learn a lot from Denmark, because it is one of the most functional EU member countries and can serve as an example for everyone of how the energy factor can be regulated," Tadic said. He noted that his talks with Wammen also covered the future cooperation between Serbian and Danish institutions, companies, scientific institutes and political structures. Wammen and Tadic in Belgrade on Friday (Tanjug) Tanjug

Tadić expects date for accession talks by end of year

He believes that Serbia's image "changed with the decision to be granted the status of a candidate for EU membership", and that it was "above all an achievement by its people".

"All the governments since October 5, 2000, have made a contribution to the reforms, but this government faced great challenges, especially in view of the economic situation in Europe and the world, which has changed fundamentally," he said at a meeting of the council.

The current government could not have picked a more difficult time to run the country, which is why the achievement is so great, not for the authorities, but for the people, he stressed.

"The candidate status confirms we are going in a good direction," Tadić, who is also leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DS), concluded.

Also on Friday in Belgrade, Tadić received Danish Minister for European Affairs Nikolai Wammen.

"We are looking forward to friendship and cooperation with Serbia in the time to come," the Danish minister told a joint news conference.

Wammen said that it was "completely clear that Serbia's course is the European one", and pointed out that the decision of EU heads of state and prime ministers "will primarily affect the perspectives for investments in Serbia".

The Danish minister, whose country currently holds EU chairmanship, also "expressed gratitude to the Serbian president for his clear commitment to Serbia's European path".

"I am certain that Europe would show its commitment to Serbia and this goal is in our common interest," he noted.

Wammen added that Serbia was facing "difficult and serious talks and decisions", but that it was "clear that Serbia has a clearly defined path which leads to Europe".

If reforms continue, Serbia will be on the right track, Wammen stated.

The Serbian president expressed his gratitude to Wammen and the Danish government for their contribution to the political process which ended in Serbia winning the candidate status.

He said that the process was followed by improvement of the quality of bilateral relations.

He recalled that Denmark invested "considerable funds" in Serbia in the previous period.

"We can learn a lot from Denmark, because it is one of the most functional EU member countries and can serve as an example for everyone of how the energy factor can be regulated," Tadić said.

He noted that his talks with Wammen also covered the future cooperation between Serbian and Danish institutions, companies, scientific institutes and political structures.