German politician: Serbia yet to fulfill all conditions

BELGRADE Serbia has not yet met all the requirements to move to the next step on its EU road, says German politician Andreas Schockenhoff. The senior official of Angela Merkel's ruling German Christian Democratic Party CDU - who previously led a parliamentary delegation visiting Belgrade, which brought "seven conditions" for Serbia - remains firmly of the view that it takes more effort in order his country to give "the green light" to start Serbia's accession negotiations with the EU. German politician: Serbia yet to fulfill all conditions "Implementation of the (Brussels) agreement is proceeding too slowly. Precious time has been lost in the reshuffle of the government in Belgrade and other delays, such as, for instance, the draft amnesty law in Kosovo." "It is imperative for both sides to make a step further. For that reason I'm completely unclear on why a new round of the dialogue has not been scheduled and will be held possibly only after the local elections on November 3. There are still many open questions, that the leaders of both countries need to address previously," Schockenhoff was quoted as saying by the Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti. He then added that it was not yet time for Berlin to support the continuation of Serbia's EU integration, because implementation of all of the key issues is still expected. "Holding a fair and free election on November 3, is also part of it. Belgrade has to better explain to the people in the north the benefit of the process of normalization. And Kosovo must do more to establish trust," said Schockenhoff. He also said that there would be no new conditions set by Germany, and that the upcoming elections there cannot bring about a change in his country's policy. "The resolution of the German Bundestag (parliament) on June 27 is also binding for the future of the German government. Otherwise, there is a great mutual understanding among all political groups in parliament concerning the German policy towards Serbia," Schockenhoff explained. (Tanjug, file) Vecernje novosti

German politician: Serbia yet to fulfill all conditions

"Implementation of the (Brussels) agreement is proceeding too slowly. Precious time has been lost in the reshuffle of the government in Belgrade and other delays, such as, for instance, the draft amnesty law in Kosovo."

"It is imperative for both sides to make a step further. For that reason I'm completely unclear on why a new round of the dialogue has not been scheduled and will be held possibly only after the local elections on November 3. There are still many open questions, that the leaders of both countries need to address previously," Schockenhoff was quoted as saying by the Belgrade daily Večernje Novosti.

He then added that it was not yet time for Berlin to support the continuation of Serbia's EU integration, because implementation of all of the key issues is still expected.

"Holding a fair and free election on November 3, is also part of it. Belgrade has to better explain to the people in the north the benefit of the process of normalization. And Kosovo must do more to establish trust," said Schockenhoff.

He also said that there would be no new conditions set by Germany, and that the upcoming elections there cannot bring about a change in his country's policy.

"The resolution of the German Bundestag (parliament) on June 27 is also binding for the future of the German government. Otherwise, there is a great mutual understanding among all political groups in parliament concerning the German policy towards Serbia," Schockenhoff explained.