Italian, Serbian presidents against "new conditions"

ROME President Tomislav Nikolic met in Rome with his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano to say that the EU should not put obstacles and new terms before Serbia. "The demand that Serbia recognize Kosovo's independence as a condition for starting (membership) talks with the EU is not common EU foreign policy," Napolitano told reporters, adding that any government of an EU member country which poses this condition before Serbia "takes responsibility for its position". Italian, Serbian presidents against "new conditions" Napolitano, at whose invitation Nikolic is paying his first official visit to Italy since becoming president, said that Serbia was entering a new stage of extremely complex talks on EU integration, during which it would make the transformation from candidate country to full-fledged member, noting that Serbia had Italy's absolute support on this path. "We will support all of Serbia's efforts during the EU accession talks stage. We are not among the EU member countries or governments which pose obstacles, i.e. demand the recognition of Kosovo's independence," specified Napolitano. Nikolic said it was unacceptable that Serbia be issued new conditions in the period between getting candidate status and opening accession talks, and stressed that Serbia would consider anything not mentioned in last year's European Commission progress report new conditions. "Serbia has clearly stated - and this has been said for the last decade and will continue to be said after me - we will never recognize Kosovo's independence. The decision to give up on one part of our territory in order to stay on the European path cannot be imposed on us. We do not ask this of other nations, and we do not want others asking it of us," said Nikolic. He said that if in the period between securing candidate status and opening accession talks, an EU member country came out with the demand that Serbia recognize Kosovo's independence, the country would prove it does not want Serbia in the EU at all. Nikolic said the EU was an alliance which suited Serbia and that Serbia had taken the exam and done what was asked of it because it wanted to be an EU member country. "I think the EC should give a positive report on what Serbia has done, and if something maybe needs to be fixed - we will do it. If it is possible, then ok, if not - Serbia will have to continue living as before, to try to cooperate with everyone, but to enjoy no one's protection," said the Serbian president. Nikolic reiterated Belgrade was ready to raise the talks with Pristina to a higher political level, noting that the Serbian team would most likely be headed by Prime Minister Ivica Dacic. Tomislav Nikolic and Giorgio Napolitano (Tanjug) Tanjug

Italian, Serbian presidents against "new conditions"

Napolitano, at whose invitation Nikolić is paying his first official visit to Italy since becoming president, said that Serbia was entering a new stage of extremely complex talks on EU integration, during which it would make the transformation from candidate country to full-fledged member, noting that Serbia had Italy's absolute support on this path.

"We will support all of Serbia's efforts during the EU accession talks stage. We are not among the EU member countries or governments which pose obstacles, i.e. demand the recognition of Kosovo's independence," specified Napolitano.

Nikolić said it was unacceptable that Serbia be issued new conditions in the period between getting candidate status and opening accession talks, and stressed that Serbia would consider anything not mentioned in last year's European Commission progress report new conditions.

"Serbia has clearly stated - and this has been said for the last decade and will continue to be said after me - we will never recognize Kosovo's independence. The decision to give up on one part of our territory in order to stay on the European path cannot be imposed on us. We do not ask this of other nations, and we do not want others asking it of us," said Nikolić.

He said that if in the period between securing candidate status and opening accession talks, an EU member country came out with the demand that Serbia recognize Kosovo's independence, the country would prove it does not want Serbia in the EU at all.

Nikolić said the EU was an alliance which suited Serbia and that Serbia had taken the exam and done what was asked of it because it wanted to be an EU member country.

"I think the EC should give a positive report on what Serbia has done, and if something maybe needs to be fixed - we will do it. If it is possible, then ok, if not - Serbia will have to continue living as before, to try to cooperate with everyone, but to enjoy no one's protection," said the Serbian president.

Nikolić reiterated Belgrade was ready to raise the talks with Priština to a higher political level, noting that the Serbian team would most likely be headed by Prime Minister Ivica Dačić.