Rome supports Belgrade’s path to EU membership

Italian ambassador to Serbia Armando Varicchio said that it is time for Serbia to submit its membership request to the European Union.

Izvor: Veèernje novosti

Friday, 28.08.2009.

09:47

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Italian ambassador to Serbia Armando Varicchio said that it is time for Serbia to submit its membership request to the European Union. He also said that Serbia should be given the status of a candidate for EU membership. Rome supports Belgrade’s path to EU membership In an interview with daily Vecernje Novosti, Varicchio said that Italy is investing a lot of effort to help unfreeze Serbia’s European integration process, and that it is on a good path to achieving this in the next several months. He said that Italy is working hard to get the Stabilization and Association Agreement unfrozen through the European Union and unilateral contact with EU partners, including Holland. Varicchio said that the eventual arrest of Ratko Mladic would definitely have a positive effect on the European public opinion, and that Brussels responded positively to the last report from Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz regarding Belgrade’s cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. “Italy’s institutions are cooperating with your prosecution to show that the Serbian side is giving its all in order to finally complete cooperation with the Hague Tribunal,” he said. As far as the effects of the economic crisis on the integration of the Balkan countries and the ratification of the Lisbon agreement are concerned, the Italian ambassador said that “there are positive indications that we are on the road to getting out of the crisis.” “We hope that the agreement will be ratified during the next referendum by the Irish. In any case, it is clear that European unity will not be achieved until all countries of the Balkans join,” he said. Asked what the most realistic year for Serbia’s EU membership is, he said that there would be positive progress in the process before the end of his term as ambassador. “We are observing Serbia with great attention and supporting the reforms which have begun. Serbia is a factor of stability in the Balkans for Italy,” he said, adding that the results of the EU mission in Kosovo have been positive thus far. “We are pleased with the existing conditions and circumstance that have been achieved. We also support and view the agreement between the Serbian Interior Ministry and EULEX as a very positive move,” Varicchio concluded. Serbian President Boris Tadic and Italian ambassador Armando Varicchio (FoNet archive)

Rome supports Belgrade’s path to EU membership

In an interview with daily Večernje Novosti, Varicchio said that Italy is investing a lot of effort to help unfreeze Serbia’s European integration process, and that it is on a good path to achieving this in the next several months.

He said that Italy is working hard to get the Stabilization and Association Agreement unfrozen through the European Union and unilateral contact with EU partners, including Holland.

Varicchio said that the eventual arrest of Ratko Mladić would definitely have a positive effect on the European public opinion, and that Brussels responded positively to the last report from Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz regarding Belgrade’s cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

“Italy’s institutions are cooperating with your prosecution to show that the Serbian side is giving its all in order to finally complete cooperation with the Hague Tribunal,” he said.

As far as the effects of the economic crisis on the integration of the Balkan countries and the ratification of the Lisbon agreement are concerned, the Italian ambassador said that “there are positive indications that we are on the road to getting out of the crisis.”

“We hope that the agreement will be ratified during the next referendum by the Irish. In any case, it is clear that European unity will not be achieved until all countries of the Balkans join,” he said.

Asked what the most realistic year for Serbia’s EU membership is, he said that there would be positive progress in the process before the end of his term as ambassador.

“We are observing Serbia with great attention and supporting the reforms which have begun. Serbia is a factor of stability in the Balkans for Italy,” he said, adding that the results of the EU mission in Kosovo have been positive thus far.

“We are pleased with the existing conditions and circumstance that have been achieved. We also support and view the agreement between the Serbian Interior Ministry and EULEX as a very positive move,” Varicchio concluded.

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