Tadić: SAA attracts Russian capital

The signing of the SAA with the EU will help attract Russian investment as well, President Boris Tadić, DS, says.

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Sunday, 13.04.2008.

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The signing of the SAA with the EU will help attract Russian investment as well, President Boris Tadic, DS, says. "There is no dilemma. I would also like to see the free trade agreement with Russia ratified in the Duma, which has not been the case until." Tadic: SAA attracts Russian capital "In that way, there would be greater security that the agreement will be implemented in the future," Tadic told the daily Politika, in an interview to be published Monday. The president also said he is in favor of ratifying the strategic energy deal with Russia, which he and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica signed in Moscow in January, adding that it would be "tragic-comic" if he didn't, since several years ago he "initiated the whole deal". "Then, the cabinet led by [Vojislav] Kostunica and [Miroljub] Labus criticized me for that idea. It is good to see that one government partner has in the meantime changed his mind," Tadic continued. The Democrats (DS) several days ago refused to support the move to have the energy agreement ratified in the dissolved parliament, citing technical reasons. Asked whether Serbia – should it improve its trade deal with Russia, to for example, export cars there without customs duty – could bring in large EU investment, the DS leader said this was "beyond any doubt". "The Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU and expansion of the list of products that could be placed in the Russia market are a part of the strategy. Before we become a full-fledged EU member, we must enlarge the free trade zones, not only with Russia, but also with Ukraine, Turkey," he said. "Russia, too, has an interest in Serbia joining the EU, since it wants to transport its gas and energy to the EU. The gas pipeline idea, brought up by me in my first meeting with Putin in February 2005, was the idea to sell gas to the western market. And when Serbia becomes an EU member, it will remain a good friend to Russia," Tadic concluded. The European Union is conditioning the signing of the SAA, seen as the first step toward membership, with Serbia's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. But some EU officials have recently hinted that a "creative solution" might still be found to sign the deal ahead of the May 11 vote in Serbia, to boost the so-called pro-European forces in the country. Boris Tadic (Beta)

Tadić: SAA attracts Russian capital

"In that way, there would be greater security that the agreement will be implemented in the future," Tadić told the daily Politika, in an interview to be published Monday.

The president also said he is in favor of ratifying the strategic energy deal with Russia, which he and Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica signed in Moscow in January, adding that it would be "tragic-comic" if he didn't, since several years ago he "initiated the whole deal".

"Then, the cabinet led by [Vojislav] Koštunica and [Miroljub] Labus criticized me for that idea. It is good to see that one government partner has in the meantime changed his mind," Tadić continued.

The Democrats (DS) several days ago refused to support the move to have the energy agreement ratified in the dissolved parliament, citing technical reasons.

Asked whether Serbia – should it improve its trade deal with Russia, to for example, export cars there without customs duty – could bring in large EU investment, the DS leader said this was "beyond any doubt".

"The Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU and expansion of the list of products that could be placed in the Russia market are a part of the strategy. Before we become a full-fledged EU member, we must enlarge the free trade zones, not only with Russia, but also with Ukraine, Turkey," he said.

"Russia, too, has an interest in Serbia joining the EU, since it wants to transport its gas and energy to the EU. The gas pipeline idea, brought up by me in my first meeting with Putin in February 2005, was the idea to sell gas to the western market. And when Serbia becomes an EU member, it will remain a good friend to Russia," Tadić concluded.

The European Union is conditioning the signing of the SAA, seen as the first step toward membership, with Serbia's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

But some EU officials have recently hinted that a "creative solution" might still be found to sign the deal ahead of the May 11 vote in Serbia, to boost the so-called pro-European forces in the country.

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