Ashton: EU ministers optimistic about Serbia

Catherine Ashton says EU foreign ministers talked about the possibility of making Serbia a candidate for membership in February "with a big dose of optimism". "At present, the Council's great desire is for Serbia to confirm its commitment to continuing dialogue with Pristina and to achieve progress that will make it possible for the EU to make a positive decision in February," the EU foreign policy chief told a news conference after a meeting of the Council of Ministers in Brussels on Monday. Ashton: EU ministers optimistic about Serbia The general mood in the Council that if this can be achieved, there is a chance for Serbia to become a candidate, Ashton said. She confirmed that the EU mediator in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina Robert Cooper will visit Belgrade and Pristina this week in order to continue the dialogue. Spokeswoman for Ashton Maja Kocijancic said earlier today that "all the foreign ministers of the European Union supported in Brussels the continuing of European integration of Serbia." "They also expect a speedy resumption of dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and an agreement on a regional representation of Kosovo," she said. The EU Council of Ministers will again discuss Serbia and Kosovo on February 28, when it would make a final decision on Serbia's candidate status for membership in the EU. Catherine Ashton is seen in Brussels on Monday (Beta/AP) Jeremic on two-day visit to Brussels Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic today started his two-day visit to Brussels, as the EU foreign ministers are meeting with Kosovo as one of the topics on the agenda. Jeremic stated on Monday after meeting with his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle that at present there was "much more understanding between the two countries regarding Serbia's EU candidate status". “The talks were very useful,” Jeremic said after meeting Westerwelle at the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. “Both sides have the same goal i.e. a positive decision on Serbia's candidate status in a few weeks,” Jeremic said. He expressed belief that the talks between EU foreign ministers regarding Serbia and Kosovo, which are currently underway, will have a positive outcome. The head of the Serbian diplomacy said that he and Westerwelle agreed on a mechanism for continuation of the top-level consultations with Germany, whose opinion will be crucial in deciding on Serbia's candidacy late in February. However, Jeremic said that it would be ungrateful to forecast the final result of the efforts made towards the EU candidate status. Jeremic added that he will meet with Westerwelle again in about ten days in Munich. During his two-day visit to Brussels, Jeremic will confer with a number of European foreign ministers, including those of Sweden, Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Denmark. Guido Westerwelle stated in Brussels that Serbia had "realistic chances of winning the EU candidacy in late February", noting, however, that "time is running out for fulfilling the imposed conditions". "Germany remains strongly committed to Serbia's EU perspective," Westerwelle stated at the news conference in Brussels. The conditions imposed by the European Council on December 9 show the way, Westerwelle stressed, adding that both sides need to fulfill them. The European Council's conclusions from December 9 request from Belgrade to reach an agreement on regional representation of Pristina, to implement the agreements reached so far, and "to help EULEX with its mandate in Kosovo". Westerwelle added that, by February, "everyone should work hard so that Serbia would not miss the opportunity of becoming an EU member state. There is no time for stalling." "Continuing dialogue most important" Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt said on Monday in Brussels that it was most important for Serbia "to continue its dialogue with Pristina as soon as possible", in order to become an EU candidate. "We talked about Serbia and Kosovo and agreed that it is necessary that both sides show a constructive attitude in the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade," Bildt said to the press during a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers on Monday in Brussels. "It is important that agreements reached so far be implemented, but the most important thing is to continue the dialogue as soon as possible," Bildt said. Bildt conferred on the sidelines of the meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, but no statements were issued after that meeting. Tanjug

Ashton: EU ministers optimistic about Serbia

The general mood in the Council that if this can be achieved, there is a chance for Serbia to become a candidate, Ashton said.

She confirmed that the EU mediator in the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština Robert Cooper will visit Belgrade and Priština this week in order to continue the dialogue.

Spokeswoman for Ashton Maja Kocijancic said earlier today that "all the foreign ministers of the European Union supported in Brussels the continuing of European integration of Serbia."

"They also expect a speedy resumption of dialogue between Belgrade and Priština and an agreement on a regional representation of Kosovo," she said.

The EU Council of Ministers will again discuss Serbia and Kosovo on February 28, when it would make a final decision on Serbia's candidate status for membership in the EU.

Jeremić on two-day visit to Brussels

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić today started his two-day visit to Brussels, as the EU foreign ministers are meeting with Kosovo as one of the topics on the agenda.

Jeremić stated on Monday after meeting with his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle that at present there was "much more understanding between the two countries regarding Serbia's EU candidate status".

“The talks were very useful,” Jeremić said after meeting Westerwelle at the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

“Both sides have the same goal i.e. a positive decision on Serbia's candidate status in a few weeks,” Jeremić said.

He expressed belief that the talks between EU foreign ministers regarding Serbia and Kosovo, which are currently underway, will have a positive outcome.

The head of the Serbian diplomacy said that he and Westerwelle agreed on a mechanism for continuation of the top-level consultations with Germany, whose opinion will be crucial in deciding on Serbia's candidacy late in February.

However, Jeremić said that it would be ungrateful to forecast the final result of the efforts made towards the EU candidate status.

Jeremić added that he will meet with Westerwelle again in about ten days in Munich.

During his two-day visit to Brussels, Jeremić will confer with a number of European foreign ministers, including those of Sweden, Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Denmark.

Guido Westerwelle stated in Brussels that Serbia had "realistic chances of winning the EU candidacy in late February", noting, however, that "time is running out for fulfilling the imposed conditions".

"Germany remains strongly committed to Serbia's EU perspective," Westerwelle stated at the news conference in Brussels.

The conditions imposed by the European Council on December 9 show the way, Westerwelle stressed, adding that both sides need to fulfill them.

The European Council's conclusions from December 9 request from Belgrade to reach an agreement on regional representation of Priština, to implement the agreements reached so far, and "to help EULEX with its mandate in Kosovo".

Westerwelle added that, by February, "everyone should work hard so that Serbia would not miss the opportunity of becoming an EU member state. There is no time for stalling."

"Continuing dialogue most important"

Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt said on Monday in Brussels that it was most important for Serbia "to continue its dialogue with Priština as soon as possible", in order to become an EU candidate.

"We talked about Serbia and Kosovo and agreed that it is necessary that both sides show a constructive attitude in the dialogue between Priština and Belgrade," Bildt said to the press during a meeting of the EU Council of Ministers on Monday in Brussels.

"It is important that agreements reached so far be implemented, but the most important thing is to continue the dialogue as soon as possible," Bildt said.

Bildt conferred on the sidelines of the meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, but no statements were issued after that meeting.