Belgrade ready for talks with Priština, PM says

BELGRADE Serbian PM Ivica Dacic said Thursday that Belgrade was ready for the start of talks and political dialogue with Pristina as early as tomorrow if necessary. He told reporters that Serbia was not hiding from any one topic or any discussion with any representative of the Pristina government. Belgrade ready for talks with Pristina, PM says He said that in 2006, a delegation of Serbia had met with representatives of Pristina led by Fatmir Sejdiu and Agim Ceku and had had talks with a Pristina delegation at Rambouillet before that. “The stories about us not being willing to talk because of someone on the other side are false accusations, as it is in our interest to have the Kosovo issue resolved. Who other could we talk to, anyway? We are ready to talk, but we do not like being accused of slowing the whole thing down,” Dacic said, adding that the Serbian government had made it clear that it wanted the dialogue to resume several weeks ago. The PM said that Serbia's state leadership would not hold a meeting on Kosovo Friday as certain newspapers had reported. Dacic announced earlier today that the government would make a decision on the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue at a meeting on Thursday. “Serbia will continue to go toward the EU, although that is not simple or easy, as it is facing the conditions that are not standard,” Dacic explained. “I would rather talk with the EU about fisheries like Norway, although the Norwegian ambassador told me that these talks are not easy either, but I doubt they are more difficult than the talks on Kosovo,“ the prime minister told a press conference at the Norwegian Embassy dedicated to the allocation of funds as part of the Strengthening Civil Society Program. He underscored that the government would certainly remain committed to the EU road and continuation of the dialogue. “We insist on a peaceful resolution of all disputes and problems, while looking for a common denominator that would enable us to progress in the EU accession process and protect our national interest at the very same time,“ Dacic said. He thanked Norway and the entire EU for great development assistance which Serbia received in the last ten years, underscoring that it amounted to EUR 2.5bn. “The Serbian government fully supports the projects that are being financed through the development funds, especially those aimed at the development of civil society and institutions in Serbia,” the prime minister noted. Dacic stressed that the funds facilitated the reform of the society and harmonization with the EU standards. “The goal should be to get ready for the talks with the EU, by making sure that at the moment when the talks actually start, our laws have already been harmonized with the EU standards and are implemented instead of starting the legislation reform and harmonization with the EU standards only after we obtain a start date for the EU entry talks,” he stated. Ivica Dacic (Beta, file) Tanjug

Belgrade ready for talks with Priština, PM says

He said that in 2006, a delegation of Serbia had met with representatives of Priština led by Fatmir Sejdiu and Agim Ceku and had had talks with a Priština delegation at Rambouillet before that.

“The stories about us not being willing to talk because of someone on the other side are false accusations, as it is in our interest to have the Kosovo issue resolved. Who other could we talk to, anyway? We are ready to talk, but we do not like being accused of slowing the whole thing down,” Dačić said, adding that the Serbian government had made it clear that it wanted the dialogue to resume several weeks ago.

The PM said that Serbia's state leadership would not hold a meeting on Kosovo Friday as certain newspapers had reported.

Dačić announced earlier today that the government would make a decision on the continuation of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue at a meeting on Thursday.

“Serbia will continue to go toward the EU, although that is not simple or easy, as it is facing the conditions that are not standard,” Dačić explained.

“I would rather talk with the EU about fisheries like Norway, although the Norwegian ambassador told me that these talks are not easy either, but I doubt they are more difficult than the talks on Kosovo,“ the prime minister told a press conference at the Norwegian Embassy dedicated to the allocation of funds as part of the Strengthening Civil Society Program.

He underscored that the government would certainly remain committed to the EU road and continuation of the dialogue.

“We insist on a peaceful resolution of all disputes and problems, while looking for a common denominator that would enable us to progress in the EU accession process and protect our national interest at the very same time,“ Dačić said.

He thanked Norway and the entire EU for great development assistance which Serbia received in the last ten years, underscoring that it amounted to EUR 2.5bn.

“The Serbian government fully supports the projects that are being financed through the development funds, especially those aimed at the development of civil society and institutions in Serbia,” the prime minister noted.

Dačić stressed that the funds facilitated the reform of the society and harmonization with the EU standards.

“The goal should be to get ready for the talks with the EU, by making sure that at the moment when the talks actually start, our laws have already been harmonized with the EU standards and are implemented instead of starting the legislation reform and harmonization with the EU standards only after we obtain a start date for the EU entry talks,” he stated.