Government adopts Brussels agreement

BELGRADE The Serbian government has adopted the Kosovo agreement initialed on April 19 in Brussels, it has been announced. An extraordinary meeting of the government on Monday morning lasted 30 minutes, was not open to the public, nor did the cabinet members address reporters. A statement has been issued instead. Government adopts Brussels agreement It said that Prime Minister Ivica Dacic informed on Monday EU High Representative Catherine Ashton the Serbian government had adopted the agreement with Pristina. Dacic phoned Ashton immediately after the government meeting at which the agreement was adopted. He met with Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert and presented him with a letter informing the EU about the government decision. Dacic states in his letter to Ashton that as agreed earlier, he is informing her that the government has adopted the first agreement on the principles for the normalization of relations, which was initialled in Brussels on Friday, April 19, 2013. He also informed her that the government had adopted the document unanimously at its meeting on Monday. Dacic thanked Ashton for her personal effort and commitment to reaching an agreement, adding that it had been priceless. The government said on Monday it had adopted the first agreement on the principles for the normalization of relations, which was made during the talks on Kosovo in Brussels. The government ordered the ministries, special organizations and its agencies to prepare for the document's implementation. The government also ordered that the implementation of the already existing agreements with the provisional authorities in Kosovo be continued, the government office for media relations said. All ministers were at the meeting, and the decision to accept the agreement with Pristina was unanimous. According to reports, the government "wished to confirm the agreement before EU foreign policy chief started her address to the EU council of ministers on Serbia's progress." Dacic said earlier that the government would be the first to make a decision on the deal, because it was in charge of internal and external policies of the country, and that this decision will then be forwarded to the Serbian parliament for verification. "If the government accepts the agreement, I expect Serbia to get a date to start membership talks with the European Union," Dacic said yesterday. This arrangement would be on the agenda of the Serbian parliament on Friday. First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said earlier that meanwhile "a meeting should be held with the Serbs in Kosovo." Presidency of the Socialist Party of Serbia yesterday unanimously endorsed the Brussels deal. The SNS party also decided on Sunday at the meeting of the party's main board to support the agreement. (Tanjug) B92 Tanjug

Government adopts Brussels agreement

It said that Prime Minister Ivica Dačić informed on Monday EU High Representative Catherine Ashton the Serbian government had adopted the agreement with Priština.

Dačić phoned Ashton immediately after the government meeting at which the agreement was adopted.

He met with Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert and presented him with a letter informing the EU about the government decision.

Dačić states in his letter to Ashton that as agreed earlier, he is informing her that the government has adopted the first agreement on the principles for the normalization of relations, which was initialled in Brussels on Friday, April 19, 2013.

He also informed her that the government had adopted the document unanimously at its meeting on Monday.

Dačić thanked Ashton for her personal effort and commitment to reaching an agreement, adding that it had been priceless.

The government said on Monday it had adopted the first agreement on the principles for the normalization of relations, which was made during the talks on Kosovo in Brussels.

The government ordered the ministries, special organizations and its agencies to prepare for the document's implementation.

The government also ordered that the implementation of the already existing agreements with the provisional authorities in Kosovo be continued, the government office for media relations said.

All ministers were at the meeting, and the decision to accept the agreement with Priština was unanimous.

According to reports, the government "wished to confirm the agreement before EU foreign policy chief started her address to the EU council of ministers on Serbia's progress."

Dačić said earlier that the government would be the first to make a decision on the deal, because it was in charge of internal and external policies of the country, and that this decision will then be forwarded to the Serbian parliament for verification.

"If the government accepts the agreement, I expect Serbia to get a date to start membership talks with the European Union," Dačić said yesterday.

This arrangement would be on the agenda of the Serbian parliament on Friday.

First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić said earlier that meanwhile "a meeting should be held with the Serbs in Kosovo."

Presidency of the Socialist Party of Serbia yesterday unanimously endorsed the Brussels deal. The SNS party also decided on Sunday at the meeting of the party's main board to support the agreement.