German envoy: Perhaps Priština should be pressed now

MT. KOPAONIK German Ambassador to Serbia Heinz Wilhelm said on Wednesday that it was "important for Serbia to become a member of the EU". Serbia should also "do everything to resolve the Kosovo issue and so help stabilize the situation in the region", according to him. German envoy: Perhaps Pristina should be pressed now Germany wants to see Serbia in the EU, Wilhelm told reporters on Mt. Kopaonik, where he is participating in a business forum. The German ambassador said that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina has entered a crucial stage and that it was "perhaps expected that Pristina would be pressed a little more right now". He stressed that Serbia has played a positive role for a longer while now, adding that its role could get even better if the Kosovo issue is resolved, as that would have a positive impact on the whole region. Ambassador Wilhelm added that Bosnia-Herzegovina " particular would be affected - as it is not yet a completed state, in a way". "I hope that Belgrade and Pristina will arrive at a compromise and that both sides will emerge as winners, since both will benefit from resolving the issue of powers to be enjoyed by Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo," said Wilhelm. Wilhelm told the press conference that he hopes that the dialogue will yield a solution over the next few weeks. When it comes to a date for the start of Serbia's EU accession negotiations, Wilhelm said that the German government can only give the green light if the German parliament votes in favor of such a decision. He added that the decision will depend a lot on the contents of a progress report on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina that will be submitted to the European Commission by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton in April. (Tanjug) Tanjug

German envoy: Perhaps Priština should be pressed now

Germany wants to see Serbia in the EU, Wilhelm told reporters on Mt. Kopaonik, where he is participating in a business forum.

The German ambassador said that the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština has entered a crucial stage and that it was "perhaps expected that Priština would be pressed a little more right now".

He stressed that Serbia has played a positive role for a longer while now, adding that its role could get even better if the Kosovo issue is resolved, as that would have a positive impact on the whole region.

Ambassador Wilhelm added that Bosnia-Herzegovina " particular would be affected - as it is not yet a completed state, in a way".

"I hope that Belgrade and Priština will arrive at a compromise and that both sides will emerge as winners, since both will benefit from resolving the issue of powers to be enjoyed by Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo," said Wilhelm.

Wilhelm told the press conference that he hopes that the dialogue will yield a solution over the next few weeks.

When it comes to a date for the start of Serbia's EU accession negotiations, Wilhelm said that the German government can only give the green light if the German parliament votes in favor of such a decision.

He added that the decision will depend a lot on the contents of a progress report on the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština that will be submitted to the European Commission by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton in April.