"No EU without agreement with Priština"

NEW YORK Tomislav Nikolic has said that he is aware that Serbia cannot join the EU without an agreement with Pristina, and that there is "no other way for Serbia." This is according to the president's statements published in the Wall Street Journal, when he also said that he was "fully open to building a new future in the Balkans, and added that agreements should be made by Serbs and Albanians, rather than himself and (Hashim) Thaci". "No EU without agreement with Pristina" He also explained why he could not shake hands with the Kosovo Albanian prime minister: "No one accuses me of war crimes, so I cannot shake hands with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci as long as he is under suspicion of war crimes." According to the daily, this was a reference to Council of Europe Special Rapporteur Dick Marty's allegations of Thaci's involvement in human organ trafficking. The article noted at the same time that Thaci qualified the accusations as "science fiction", and adding that "Kosovo will move ahead towards the EU and NATO membership with or without an agreement with Serbs". "We will never recognize Kosovo's independence," Nikolic is quoted as saying in reaction. Analyzing the tone of his voice, the New York paper said it was "more resigned than fiery", and concluded that the Serbian president in this manner had "opened the door". Nikolic was also quoted as saying that he knows Serbia can't join the EU without an agreement with Pristina, stressing that Serbia has no other choice but to join the EU, which "his government" wants. In an earlier article, the daily reads that the high-level talks between Belgrade and Pristina under the EU auspices were imminent, and that Serbian leaders have been sending positive signals in this respect. The date has not been decided yet, but we are practically there and the talks will take place, a senior European diplomat said for the Wall Street Journal. Tomislav Nikolic (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

"No EU without agreement with Priština"

He also explained why he could not shake hands with the Kosovo Albanian prime minister:

"No one accuses me of war crimes, so I cannot shake hands with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci as long as he is under suspicion of war crimes."

According to the daily, this was a reference to Council of Europe Special Rapporteur Dick Marty's allegations of Thaci's involvement in human organ trafficking. The article noted at the same time that Thaci qualified the accusations as "science fiction", and adding that "Kosovo will move ahead towards the EU and NATO membership with or without an agreement with Serbs".

"We will never recognize Kosovo's independence," Nikolić is quoted as saying in reaction.

Analyzing the tone of his voice, the New York paper said it was "more resigned than fiery", and concluded that the Serbian president in this manner had "opened the door".

Nikolić was also quoted as saying that he knows Serbia can't join the EU without an agreement with Priština, stressing that Serbia has no other choice but to join the EU, which "his government" wants.

In an earlier article, the daily reads that the high-level talks between Belgrade and Priština under the EU auspices were imminent, and that Serbian leaders have been sending positive signals in this respect.

The date has not been decided yet, but we are practically there and the talks will take place, a senior European diplomat said for the Wall Street Journal.