"EU isn't interfering in elections"

A leading European Parliament official says the EU’s offer to Serbia to sign the SAA is not an attempt to interfere in the coming elections. The European Parliament’s Head of Delegation for South-Eastern Europe Doris Pack said that EU Foreign and Security Policies Chief Javier Solana’s offer was not an attempt to get involved in Serbia’s internal affairs. "EU isn't interfering in elections" Solana had said that Belgrade should sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU before the May 11 parliamentary elections. “Solana’s statement works towards our wish to help the Serbian people, especially the younger generation and their better future. We are not saying who they should vote for, and we’re not supporting any political leaders, rather, the people and ideas,” Pak explained. She told daily Danas that the EU, however, knew “which Serbian politicians support Serbia in the European Union, and which support getting closer to Russia and distancing themselves from the EU.” Pak said that signing the SAA would not affect completion of Hague cooperation, which several EU member-states were insisting on. “The arrest of Ratko Mladic and the rest of the fugitives is very important, but that can be delayed until the post-election period in Serbia, since the signing of the agreement also requires ratification by the European Parliament, which can always halt ratification if Serbia does not want to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal,” she said. Doris Pak (FoNet archive)

"EU isn't interfering in elections"

Solana had said that Belgrade should sign the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU before the May 11 parliamentary elections.

“Solana’s statement works towards our wish to help the Serbian people, especially the younger generation and their better future. We are not saying who they should vote for, and we’re not supporting any political leaders, rather, the people and ideas,” Pak explained.

She told daily Danas that the EU, however, knew “which Serbian politicians support Serbia in the European Union, and which support getting closer to Russia and distancing themselves from the EU.”

Pak said that signing the SAA would not affect completion of Hague cooperation, which several EU member-states were insisting on.

“The arrest of Ratko Mladić and the rest of the fugitives is very important, but that can be delayed until the post-election period in Serbia, since the signing of the agreement also requires ratification by the European Parliament, which can always halt ratification if Serbia does not want to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal,” she said.