Serbia "wants to join EU, but not at all costs"

BELGRADE We want the EU integration but not if the price is losing our state and elementary dignity in the process, Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic has said. He told daily Vecernje novosti not a single country in Europe or in the world would agree to something like that. Serbia "wants to join EU, but not at all costs" Dacic claims that Serbia would not give up on the EU integration process but that it could not accept Brussels’ formulations that violated Serbia’s territorial integrity. “Serbia cannot and will accept the position to respect Kosovo’s territorial integrity although we understand (EU Enlargement) Commissioner Stefan Fule’s explanation that the point of the formulation is that Europe does not want the partition of the southern Serbian province. I am telling Brussels not to place the dilemma Kosovo or the EU before us because we cannot renounce ourselves and our state. And we do not want to renounce the EU either,” the prime minister was quoted as saying. He added that the Serbian government remained committed to the EU idea because it was aware of the importance of the opening of the EU accession negotiations for Serbia’s society and economy. “Serbia is facing great political challenges, such as the Kosovo issue, but the government is ready to face the challenges that await it and advocates peaceful solutions. We are aware of the importance that the start of the EU accession negotiations will bring to Serbia’s society and economy,” Dacic was quoted as saying. According to the prime minister, Serbia will continue the process of harmonizing its legislation with the European and the EU remains Serbia's most important trade partner. “We are aware that the EU is facing serious economic challenges that also affect our foreign-trade partners, such as Russia and China. It is important to cooperate with everybody,” the PM concluded. Ivica Dacic (Tanjug, file) Vecernje novosti

Serbia "wants to join EU, but not at all costs"

Dačić claims that Serbia would not give up on the EU integration process but that it could not accept Brussels’ formulations that violated Serbia’s territorial integrity.

“Serbia cannot and will accept the position to respect Kosovo’s territorial integrity although we understand (EU Enlargement) Commissioner Stefan Fule’s explanation that the point of the formulation is that Europe does not want the partition of the southern Serbian province. I am telling Brussels not to place the dilemma Kosovo or the EU before us because we cannot renounce ourselves and our state. And we do not want to renounce the EU either,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.

He added that the Serbian government remained committed to the EU idea because it was aware of the importance of the opening of the EU accession negotiations for Serbia’s society and economy.

“Serbia is facing great political challenges, such as the Kosovo issue, but the government is ready to face the challenges that await it and advocates peaceful solutions. We are aware of the importance that the start of the EU accession negotiations will bring to Serbia’s society and economy,” Dačić was quoted as saying.

According to the prime minister, Serbia will continue the process of harmonizing its legislation with the European and the EU remains Serbia's most important trade partner.

“We are aware that the EU is facing serious economic challenges that also affect our foreign-trade partners, such as Russia and China. It is important to cooperate with everybody,” the PM concluded.