Serbian officials happy with Irish vote

Serbian officials have welcomed the "yes" vote in the Irish referendum on the EU Lisbon Treaty. They believe that the result paves the way for Serbia's EU integration. Serbian officials happy with Irish vote President Boris Tadic stated that the news represented "great encouragement for the EU enlargement process". "The door is open both for Serbia and for the Western Balkans," said he. Deputy PM Bozidar Djelic told B92 that the success of the Irish referendum is good news for "Serbia's European path". "It's about bringing to a close five years of institutional vacuum on our continent. Now all that remains to be done is for Polish and Czech presidents to sign the already ratified treaties and for Europe to at last be able to grapple with the 21st century challenges," believes he. "Just as Mr. Sarkozy and Mrs. Merkel said, they were waiting for Lisbon to be brought to a close for Europe's enlargement to begin," Djelic was quoted. "We are very close to that goal now and in that sense we can expect that the coming years will be more positive for Serbia's European perspective, compared to the last two." Djelic noted however that the Irish referendum outcome "does not mean that Holland's position on implementing the temporary trade agreement between Serbia and the EU will become relative". The trade deal is part of the suspended Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), signed in late April 2008 and immediately frozen, pending Serbia's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

Serbian officials happy with Irish vote

President Boris Tadić stated that the news represented "great encouragement for the EU enlargement process".

"The door is open both for Serbia and for the Western Balkans," said he.

Deputy PM Božidar Đelić told B92 that the success of the Irish referendum is good news for "Serbia's European path".

"It's about bringing to a close five years of institutional vacuum on our continent. Now all that remains to be done is for Polish and Czech presidents to sign the already ratified treaties and for Europe to at last be able to grapple with the 21st century challenges," believes he.

"Just as Mr. Sarkozy and Mrs. Merkel said, they were waiting for Lisbon to be brought to a close for Europe's enlargement to begin," Đelić was quoted.

"We are very close to that goal now and in that sense we can expect that the coming years will be more positive for Serbia's European perspective, compared to the last two."

Đelić noted however that the Irish referendum outcome "does not mean that Holland's position on implementing the temporary trade agreement between Serbia and the EU will become relative".

The trade deal is part of the suspended Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), signed in late April 2008 and immediately frozen, pending Serbia's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.