Tadić: EU as fast as possible

President Boris Tadic will lead a Serbian delegation to Brussels for talks with EU officials. Tadic will be accompanied by Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, Deputy Prime Minister in charge for EU integration Bozidar Djelic, and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic. Tadic: EU as fast as possible So far it has been confirmed that Serbia’s representatives will meet with EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, though his spokeswoman Cristina Gallach could not give precise details as to the subjects up for discussion. Tadic said that during talks with EU officials he would look for ways for Serbia to become an EU member as soon as possible. "It is essential that after all electoral processes in Serbia, the formation of the new government, and taking note of the general mood of Serbian citizens in favor of Serbia becoming an EU member-state, we go to Brussels and take stock of what has been achieved so far and what has to be done in the coming period, thus creating a roadmap for Serbia to become member of the EU as soon as possible,” Tadic explained. The president said that it was important for Serbia to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) as soon as possible in order to receive candidate status and thus providing access to EU development funds. He said that Serbia’s approach to the EU would provide a better standard of living and stability to its citizens in the years to come. Tadic said that he would be talking to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn about implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement. "We can’t go on without Europe, and that’s why all the processes must be accelerated, including implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement,” the president stressed. He said that following Radovan Karadzic’s extradition to the Hague Tribunal, it would be impossible to criticize Serbia for evading cooperation with the Tribunal, which was the “crucial link” for the implementation of the Interim Agreement that offers better possibilities for the export of Serbian products to the EU market. Tadic emphasized that completing cooperation with the Hague Tribunal was one of the government’s most important goals. Asked whether there had been any progress in the search for Ratko Mladic, the president said that the authorities were doing their job and that every Hague fugitive would end up in The Hague. Trying to clear up contradictory information on Serbian state assistance to Radovan Karadzic’s defense, he said that Serbia was willing to help all those accused by the Tribunal, so that the truth could be established. "Everyone’s innocent until proven guilty. Everybody at the Tribunal has the right to receive documents and information which could help them defend their innocence. Also, Serbia will take into consideration whether the person in question is a Serbian national. We’ll respect legal obligations towards all those indicted before the Hague Tribunal,” Tadic underlined. Boris Tadic (FoNet)

Tadić: EU as fast as possible

So far it has been confirmed that Serbia’s representatives will meet with EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, though his spokeswoman Cristina Gallach could not give precise details as to the subjects up for discussion.

Tadić said that during talks with EU officials he would look for ways for Serbia to become an EU member as soon as possible.

"It is essential that after all electoral processes in Serbia, the formation of the new government, and taking note of the general mood of Serbian citizens in favor of Serbia becoming an EU member-state, we go to Brussels and take stock of what has been achieved so far and what has to be done in the coming period, thus creating a roadmap for Serbia to become member of the EU as soon as possible,” Tadić explained.

The president said that it was important for Serbia to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) as soon as possible in order to receive candidate status and thus providing access to EU development funds.

He said that Serbia’s approach to the EU would provide a better standard of living and stability to its citizens in the years to come.

Tadić said that he would be talking to European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn about implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement.

"We can’t go on without Europe, and that’s why all the processes must be accelerated, including implementation of the Interim Trade Agreement,” the president stressed.

He said that following Radovan Karadžić’s extradition to the Hague Tribunal, it would be impossible to criticize Serbia for evading cooperation with the Tribunal, which was the “crucial link” for the implementation of the Interim Agreement that offers better possibilities for the export of Serbian products to the EU market.

Tadić emphasized that completing cooperation with the Hague Tribunal was one of the government’s most important goals.

Asked whether there had been any progress in the search for Ratko Mladić, the president said that the authorities were doing their job and that every Hague fugitive would end up in The Hague.

Trying to clear up contradictory information on Serbian state assistance to Radovan Karadžić’s defense, he said that Serbia was willing to help all those accused by the Tribunal, so that the truth could be established.

"Everyone’s innocent until proven guilty. Everybody at the Tribunal has the right to receive documents and information which could help them defend their innocence. Also, Serbia will take into consideration whether the person in question is a Serbian national. We’ll respect legal obligations towards all those indicted before the Hague Tribunal,” Tadić underlined.