Serbia "far from reintroduction of visas", says PM

UZICE Prime Minister Ivica Dacic has said that Serbia was "a long way away" from having EU's visa regime imposed for its citizens traveling to the Schengen zone. Dacic, who spoke on Friday in Uzice, western Serbia, stressed that he was convinced that "if Serbia conducts a constructive policy protecting its national interests and showing readiness to be a part of the solution when it comes to the (false) asylum seekers problem, it will certainly not see the visa-free regime suspended." Serbia "far from reintroduction of visas", says PM "Do you really think that it was possible for me to go to hold talks with Hashim Thaci in the presence of Catherine Ashton, while our visa-free regime was being abolished," Dacic asked reporters, and the concluded: "It's illogical." EU's minister met on Thursday to discuss this issue, and decided in favor of the urgent adoption in the European Parliament of a "protective clause" - a mechanism to enable a temporary suspension of the regime for "some Balkan countries". Ivica Dacic (Tanjug, file) "Uncertain conditional" Ivica Dacic on Friday also said that it was "uncertain for the moment" whether Serbia, like Montenegro, would be given "a conditional date" for the start of the accession talks with the EU or if some other solution would be suggested. "Seeing the positive development of the relations and cooperation with the European Commission, I am certain we can expect a positive development when it comes to the beginning of the accession talks," Dacic told reporters in Sevojno, western Serbia. When asked if it was true Serbia would get a conditional date and if that was why Catherine Ashton was coming to Belgrade on October 31, Dacic replied that those were simply different opinions and expectations. "The important thing is that we are a part of a process leading to EU integration, and I see the Belgrade visits by Catherine Ashton and Hillary Clinton as support for the path started by Serbia's new government," Dacic stated. The visit is not meant as pressure, "because there is no reason for it", he noted. Dacic pointed out that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton told him during their last meeting that "she would not force Serbia to do anything it did not want". B92 Tanjug

Serbia "far from reintroduction of visas", says PM

"Do you really think that it was possible for me to go to hold talks with Hashim Thaci in the presence of Catherine Ashton, while our visa-free regime was being abolished," Dačić asked reporters, and the concluded:

"It's illogical."

EU's minister met on Thursday to discuss this issue, and decided in favor of the urgent adoption in the European Parliament of a "protective clause" - a mechanism to enable a temporary suspension of the regime for "some Balkan countries".

"Uncertain conditional"

Ivica Dačić on Friday also said that it was "uncertain for the moment" whether Serbia, like Montenegro, would be given "a conditional date" for the start of the accession talks with the EU or if some other solution would be suggested.

"Seeing the positive development of the relations and cooperation with the European Commission, I am certain we can expect a positive development when it comes to the beginning of the accession talks," Dačić told reporters in Sevojno, western Serbia.

When asked if it was true Serbia would get a conditional date and if that was why Catherine Ashton was coming to Belgrade on October 31, Dačić replied that those were simply different opinions and expectations.

"The important thing is that we are a part of a process leading to EU integration, and I see the Belgrade visits by Catherine Ashton and Hillary Clinton as support for the path started by Serbia's new government," Dačić stated.

The visit is not meant as pressure, "because there is no reason for it", he noted.

Dačić pointed out that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton told him during their last meeting that "she would not force Serbia to do anything it did not want".