Nikolić: Serbia ready to implement all agreements

BELGRADE Tomislav Nikolic hsa said in a meeting with Slovak FM Miroslav Lajcak that Serbia was ready to implement all agreements reached in the dialogue with Pristina. Speaking during the meeting with the Serbian president on Tuesday in Belgrade, Lajcak said Slovakia supported the idea of granting Serbia a date for opening EU accession talks at the end of June without any new conditions. Nikolic: Serbia ready to implement all agreements In the previous period, Serbia has taken a lot of responsible moves in solving the Kosovo issue and achieving lasting stability in this part of Europe, said Lajcak. He expressed belief that there is no country in the EU which would claim there are any obstacles to opening talks with Serbia. Implementation of the agreements reached so far is what is now expected of Serbia, said the Slovak minister. Nikolic said Serbia is ready to implement all the agreements that have been reached, as long as everything is in line with the status neutrality of Kosovo, the president's office said in a release. The president stated that problems with the implementation of the freedom of movement agreement reached during the term of the previous government can be solved easily, provided Serbs in Kosovo are not forced to accept citizenship and passports of a non-existent state, the so-called Republic of Kosovo. He noted it is very important for Serbia to get a date for starting EU accession talks, because it would be a positive signal to investors, whom the country needs for economic recovery. Lajcak also met with his Serbian counterpart Ivan Mrkic, PM Ivica Dacic, and his first deputy Aleksandar Vucic earlier in the day. He said afterwards that his country was supportive of opening EU accession talks with Serbia and getting a date for the negotiations to begin "without any additional conditions and without delay." Lajcak told reporters at the Slovak embassy that he had came to Belgrade to express support to the Serbian government's efforts for Serbia to join the Union, and to decisions made in the Belgrade-Pristina dialog. "I've come to encourage the Serbian government on its path. Serbia made brave, difficult and responsible decisions, and the EU sees it today as a serious partner, and its reputation is better than ever," the Slovak foreign minister said. He added that it was necessary to implement everything that was agreed during the Belgrade-Pristina talks, because implementation was "the key word." Slovakia refused to recognize Kosovo's unilaterally proclaimed independence, and the foreign minister recalled that his country's view was "well known" and that it wouldn't change. Slovakia supports "the Western Balkans' European prospects," said the minister. The Serbian prime minister said it was "very important to do what is planned by June 28," when the EU is to decide whether to open accession talks with Serbia. The Slovak foreign minister said a formula was arranged for Kosovo's participation in the summit of Central European heads of state, taking place in Bratislava next week. Kosovo will be represented without state insignia. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic will attend the conference. Nikolic receives Lajcak in Belgrade on Tuesday (Tanjug) Beta Tanjug

Nikolić: Serbia ready to implement all agreements

In the previous period, Serbia has taken a lot of responsible moves in solving the Kosovo issue and achieving lasting stability in this part of Europe, said Lajčak.

He expressed belief that there is no country in the EU which would claim there are any obstacles to opening talks with Serbia.

Implementation of the agreements reached so far is what is now expected of Serbia, said the Slovak minister.

Nikolić said Serbia is ready to implement all the agreements that have been reached, as long as everything is in line with the status neutrality of Kosovo, the president's office said in a release.

The president stated that problems with the implementation of the freedom of movement agreement reached during the term of the previous government can be solved easily, provided Serbs in Kosovo are not forced to accept citizenship and passports of a non-existent state, the so-called Republic of Kosovo.

He noted it is very important for Serbia to get a date for starting EU accession talks, because it would be a positive signal to investors, whom the country needs for economic recovery.

Lajčak also met with his Serbian counterpart Ivan Mrkić, PM Ivica Dačić, and his first deputy Aleksandar Vučić earlier in the day.

He said afterwards that his country was supportive of opening EU accession talks with Serbia and getting a date for the negotiations to begin "without any additional conditions and without delay."

Lajčak told reporters at the Slovak embassy that he had came to Belgrade to express support to the Serbian government's efforts for Serbia to join the Union, and to decisions made in the Belgrade-Priština dialog.

"I've come to encourage the Serbian government on its path. Serbia made brave, difficult and responsible decisions, and the EU sees it today as a serious partner, and its reputation is better than ever," the Slovak foreign minister said.

He added that it was necessary to implement everything that was agreed during the Belgrade-Priština talks, because implementation was "the key word."

Slovakia refused to recognize Kosovo's unilaterally proclaimed independence, and the foreign minister recalled that his country's view was "well known" and that it wouldn't change. Slovakia supports "the Western Balkans' European prospects," said the minister.

The Serbian prime minister said it was "very important to do what is planned by June 28," when the EU is to decide whether to open accession talks with Serbia.

The Slovak foreign minister said a formula was arranged for Kosovo's participation in the summit of Central European heads of state, taking place in Bratislava next week. Kosovo will be represented without state insignia. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić will attend the conference.