Belgrade’s “constructive approach in dialogue” key for EU

Belgrade's constructive approach in the dialogue with Pristina will influence EU’s decision on the candidacy, German Ambassador in Belgrade Wolfram Maas says. “Serbia's ways of solving open issues will certainly contribute to the process of reaching the decision on the country's candidacy,” Maas told Tanjug late Thursday. Belgrade’s “constructive approach in dialogue” key for EU “We have always made it perfectly clear that we expect Serbia to have a constructive approach in the dialogue (with Pristina),” the ambassador said at a reception related to the first regional conference of Bundestag scholars opening in Belgrade on Friday, and pointed out that evident progress in the dialogue by the end September and later would surely affect the European member states' decision on Serbia's EU candidacy. When asked if Serbia could expect both candidacy and the date for the beginning of talks with the EU on October 12, he underlined that he recommended to go step by step. “It is most important that Serbia first gets a positive opinion on the candidacy and then takes the next step,” he pointed out. Commenting on the German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s recent visit to Belgrade and the messages she sent to Serbia, the ambassador said that many positive things she said on the occasion were omitted in the reports. “She was quite straightforward in saying that her visit to the country should be taken as a proof of Germany's support to Serbia's pathway towards the EU,” Maas underscored. “The chancellor went one step further and said that if Serbia adheres to European principles Germany will do everything to assist the country on its EU path. 'Everything' implies great commitments,” Maas noted, underlining that he, as an ambassador, would not dare to give such a statement as it implied great responsibility. He recalled that Merkel also clearly stated that the conditions Serbia should fulfill include the continuance of reform processes and meeting the Copenhagen criteria with regard to the neighboring countries as well. “This is exactly what we have been saying for a long time,” the German ambassador told Tanjug. Wolfram Maas

Belgrade’s “constructive approach in dialogue” key for EU

“We have always made it perfectly clear that we expect Serbia to have a constructive approach in the dialogue (with Priština),” the ambassador said at a reception related to the first regional conference of Bundestag scholars opening in Belgrade on Friday, and pointed out that evident progress in the dialogue by the end September and later would surely affect the European member states' decision on Serbia's EU candidacy.

When asked if Serbia could expect both candidacy and the date for the beginning of talks with the EU on October 12, he underlined that he recommended to go step by step.

“It is most important that Serbia first gets a positive opinion on the candidacy and then takes the next step,” he pointed out.

Commenting on the German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s recent visit to Belgrade and the messages she sent to Serbia, the ambassador said that many positive things she said on the occasion were omitted in the reports.

“She was quite straightforward in saying that her visit to the country should be taken as a proof of Germany's support to Serbia's pathway towards the EU,” Maas underscored.

“The chancellor went one step further and said that if Serbia adheres to European principles Germany will do everything to assist the country on its EU path. 'Everything' implies great commitments,” Maas noted, underlining that he, as an ambassador, would not dare to give such a statement as it implied great responsibility.

He recalled that Merkel also clearly stated that the conditions Serbia should fulfill include the continuance of reform processes and meeting the Copenhagen criteria with regard to the neighboring countries as well.

“This is exactly what we have been saying for a long time,” the German ambassador told Tanjug.