President's remarks: Change of course, or pursuit of essence

BELGRADE Tomislav Nikolic has caused a stir with his speech delivered at the ruling SNS party gathering on Saturday, with politicians and experts analyzing his words. The message contained in the president's address was that Serbia "will no longer be chasing dates in its EU integrations", as it would present "its own conditions". President's remarks: Change of course, or pursuit of essence After ten years of such a chase - that according to Nikolic resulted in its economic downfall - the country would now, its leader said, "think about itself for a while". "We have friends everywhere, let them compete among themselves to see who will help Serbia," the president said. On Monday, Prime Minister Ivica Dacic joined those who endeavored to interpret the speech, to say that while Serbia was "hurrying toward the EU", it was "not chasing a date for the start of (EU) membership talks at all costs", and was at the same time "ready for the dialogue with Pristina". "If you express a desire to be given a date by December, then, likely, the price will also be higher," noted Dacic, and added that Serbia would not act against its own national and state interests in order to be given that date. However, the premier denied that Nikolic's statement meant that Serbia had changed its policy toward the EU, and stressed this policy "remains the same": "This is not just about a date, it's about the dialogue with the representatives of the authorities in Pristina. It is important for a process to exists, instead of chasing certain dates." Dacic also stressed that Serbia "wishes to receive a date as soon as possible", and that the government was ready for the dialogue, "and relaxation of relations with Pristina". EU's representative in Serbia Vincent Degert was there on Saturday and heard it himself when Nikolic sent his message during the SNS event. Still, Degert believes that it did not mean that Serbia was changing its course and giving up on its EU integrations, but that what the president instead meant was that the relations between Europe and Serbia should be filled with essence, rather than with dates and timings. "I do not expect changes on the Serbian side - if we look at the coalition agreement of this government, it says there clearly that European integrations are a strategic priority for Serbia. I see no reason for that to change," said the EU official. Sitting alongside Degert in the third row at the SNS gathering was Germany's recently appointed ambassador in Belgrade, Heinz Wilhelm. Commenting on the president's speech, he stated that in the past four weeks here he had met with many Serbian officials, but that he "did not hear any of Serbia's announced conditions for the EU". "Clearly integrations are a two-way street where it is not only the EU that is making its conditions. Simply put, each candidate country must first be interested in joining the European Union. We must see what kind of conditions the Serbian authorities have in mind," the German diplomat was quoted as saying. In the meanwhile, a message similar to that sent by Nikolic was heard on Monday from the Serbian government's deputy prime minister in charge of EU integrations, Suzana Grubjesic. She stated that the country should not be "rushing headlong", because EU integrations were "a marathon, rather than a 100-meter race". B92

President's remarks: Change of course, or pursuit of essence

After ten years of such a chase - that according to Nikolić resulted in its economic downfall - the country would now, its leader said, "think about itself for a while".

"We have friends everywhere, let them compete among themselves to see who will help Serbia," the president said.

On Monday, Prime Minister Ivica Dačić joined those who endeavored to interpret the speech, to say that while Serbia was "hurrying toward the EU", it was "not chasing a date for the start of (EU) membership talks at all costs", and was at the same time "ready for the dialogue with Priština".

"If you express a desire to be given a date by December, then, likely, the price will also be higher," noted Dačić, and added that Serbia would not act against its own national and state interests in order to be given that date.

However, the premier denied that Nikolić's statement meant that Serbia had changed its policy toward the EU, and stressed this policy "remains the same":

"This is not just about a date, it's about the dialogue with the representatives of the authorities in Priština. It is important for a process to exists, instead of chasing certain dates."

Dačić also stressed that Serbia "wishes to receive a date as soon as possible", and that the government was ready for the dialogue, "and relaxation of relations with Priština".

EU's representative in Serbia Vincent Degert was there on Saturday and heard it himself when Nikolić sent his message during the SNS event. Still, Degert believes that it did not mean that Serbia was changing its course and giving up on its EU integrations, but that what the president instead meant was that the relations between Europe and Serbia should be filled with essence, rather than with dates and timings.

"I do not expect changes on the Serbian side - if we look at the coalition agreement of this government, it says there clearly that European integrations are a strategic priority for Serbia. I see no reason for that to change," said the EU official.

Sitting alongside Degert in the third row at the SNS gathering was Germany's recently appointed ambassador in Belgrade, Heinz Wilhelm. Commenting on the president's speech, he stated that in the past four weeks here he had met with many Serbian officials, but that he "did not hear any of Serbia's announced conditions for the EU".

"Clearly integrations are a two-way street where it is not only the EU that is making its conditions. Simply put, each candidate country must first be interested in joining the European Union. We must see what kind of conditions the Serbian authorities have in mind," the German diplomat was quoted as saying.

In the meanwhile, a message similar to that sent by Nikolić was heard on Monday from the Serbian government's deputy prime minister in charge of EU integrations, Suzana Grubješić. She stated that the country should not be "rushing headlong", because EU integrations were "a marathon, rather than a 100-meter race".