EU talks date “depends on dialogue”

BERLIN A date for the beginning of the EU accession talks depends on the outcome of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, says German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle. He met with Serbian First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday in Berlin. EU talks date “depends on dialogue” Westerwelle said that Germany was very interested in seeing progress in Serbia’s EU accession process. He reiterated that talks of Serbia and Kosovo’s PMs Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci were therefore very important. According to the German minister, Germany will then reconsider its stance on a date for the start of the EU accession talks. He stressed that Serbia on its EU pathway had a great support in the German parliament which was important bearing in mind that the country will soon hold parliamentary elections. Vucic said after the meeting with Westerwelle that Serbia wanted to have the best possible relations with Germany and the EU, even though it included “difficult decisions” and numerous unpopular political moves. He added that Serbia wanted to continue its EU pathway not because it was a dogma but because it was the best choice for the Serbian citizens, noting that the EU meant better economy and the rule of law. The deputy PM stressed that the Serbian government had made numerous difficult decisions in the last six months, “not at the last moment but on time” and added that he was convinced that Germany respected what Serbia had done. Vucic stated that he had not come to Berlin to say that Serbia deserved to get a date for the start of the EU accession talks because it depended on Germany and other EU member states. “It is up to them, not us,” he pointed out. “We are facing difficult talks, Germany expects Serbia to do a lot in the next month, month and a half,” the first deputy PM said, adding that he was convinced that Serbia would fulfill the difficult obligations. Vucic said that he and Westerwelle had also discussed development of economic relations. He explained that Germany was Serbia’s biggest trade partner, that Serbia had the highest export to Germany of all countries of the former Yugoslavia, that more than 370 German companies did their business in Serbia and employed 20,000 people. “By strengthening our economic ties, we would also strengthen our political ties,” he concluded. The first deputy PM met with German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere earlier on Wednesday. De Maiziere told Vucic that he was satisfied with results of the Serbian government, especially with combat against corruption. “Getting a date (for the beginning of the EU accession negotiations) would be an important signal for our citizens,” the Serbian deputy PM said and stressed that the atmosphere during the meeting with de Maiziere was positive. The two officials discussed the situation in Kosovo and Serbia’s economic progress and the Serbian deputy PM asked the German minister not to reduce the number of KFOR troops in Serbian enclaves. They also discussed bilateral and military and military-economic situation and participation of Serbian officers in training courses in Germany. Vucic and de Maiziere also discussed import of machines for defense industry which has not been possible until now. They talked about joint participation of Serbian and German troops in international operations in EU and UN missions. Vucic is the first defense minister of Serbia who had an official meeting with his German counterpart in Germany in 11 years. Vucic will later today address members of the Bundestag Committee on EU Affairs, which is chaired by Gunther Krichbaum of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Aside from the first deputy PM, Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Suzana Grubjesic and parliamentary Committee on EU Integration President Milica Delevic are also a part of the Serbian delegation. Vucic, Grubjesic and Delevic will participate in a conference dubbed “The Balkans and European Future- the role of Serbia“ at the Robert Bosch Foundation. L-R: Aleksandar Vucic, Guido Westerwelle, Suzana Grubjesic (FoNet) "No new obstacles, only known criteria" German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Wednesday that the government in Berlin is interested in the process of Serbia's accession to the EU and its progress towards membership, adding that there will be no new obstacles posed before Serbia but the criteria already laid down will not be given up on. "I want to underline that the activities conducted by the German government, especially over the recent years, have proven that we honestly think this way," Westerwelle told a press conference after meeting with Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in Berlin. There were comments about Germany only falling on the use of empty diplomatic phrases and words, but we have managed to prove that this is not the case as everything we said was followed by strong actions, said Westerwelle. "We fulfilled everything and acted in line with everything that I promised during my visit to Belgrade," Westerwelle stressed. He pointed out that the time has come for further steps to be made in Serbia's European integration process, which means opening accession negotiations between Serbia and EU, but stressed that this depends on the fulfillment of the criteria already laid down. He pointed to the importance of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, based on the results of which Germany will be making its decision. "The support for Serbia's EU accession perspective is not coming only from the German government, but also from a large majority in the Bundestag, which is very important, given that there is no controversy over this issue between the ruling coalition and the opposition," Westerwelle said. He stressed that this is very important for Serbia as Germany will hold elections this year. He said that Serbia is a very important partner country for Germany, adding that Germany is supporting it on its path to the EU and that Serbia is facing important weeks on the EU road, which is why it is important for the two countries to continue fostering the close contacts they have established. "Germany supports the European perspective of the Western Balkans and we want to help Serbia on its road to the EU," said Westerwelle, adding that this process involves certain pre-conditions, which bind all the candidates, and which Serbia needs to meet in order create the conditions for the opening of accession negotiations. "We wish Serbia to continue on the path to the EU," the German foreign minister said. When it comes to the criteria, Germany will not give up on any of the existing ones, but will pose no new ones before Serbia, he added. He said that the membership talks will be conducted in a fair and partnership-like manner. Germany welcomes the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and expects it to lead to concrete results aimed at making "significant progress in the normalization of relations", he said. The existing conflicts and problems cannot be solved overnight, Westerwelle said. Reconciliation is a long process, which is something that we know very well, he added. "From the German point of view, it is important to apply certain principles, such as the resolution of conflicts in the spirit of good neighborly relations, coexistence and the rule of law," Westwerwelle said. B92 Beta Tanjug

EU talks date “depends on dialogue”

Westerwelle said that Germany was very interested in seeing progress in Serbia’s EU accession process.

He reiterated that talks of Serbia and Kosovo’s PMs Ivica Dačić and Hashim Thaci were therefore very important.

According to the German minister, Germany will then reconsider its stance on a date for the start of the EU accession talks.

He stressed that Serbia on its EU pathway had a great support in the German parliament which was important bearing in mind that the country will soon hold parliamentary elections.

Vučić said after the meeting with Westerwelle that Serbia wanted to have the best possible relations with Germany and the EU, even though it included “difficult decisions” and numerous unpopular political moves.

He added that Serbia wanted to continue its EU pathway not because it was a dogma but because it was the best choice for the Serbian citizens, noting that the EU meant better economy and the rule of law.

The deputy PM stressed that the Serbian government had made numerous difficult decisions in the last six months, “not at the last moment but on time” and added that he was convinced that Germany respected what Serbia had done.

Vučić stated that he had not come to Berlin to say that Serbia deserved to get a date for the start of the EU accession talks because it depended on Germany and other EU member states.

“It is up to them, not us,” he pointed out.

“We are facing difficult talks, Germany expects Serbia to do a lot in the next month, month and a half,” the first deputy PM said, adding that he was convinced that Serbia would fulfill the difficult obligations.

Vučić said that he and Westerwelle had also discussed development of economic relations. He explained that Germany was Serbia’s biggest trade partner, that Serbia had the highest export to Germany of all countries of the former Yugoslavia, that more than 370 German companies did their business in Serbia and employed 20,000 people.

“By strengthening our economic ties, we would also strengthen our political ties,” he concluded.

The first deputy PM met with German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere earlier on Wednesday.

De Maiziere told Vučić that he was satisfied with results of the Serbian government, especially with combat against corruption.

“Getting a date (for the beginning of the EU accession negotiations) would be an important signal for our citizens,” the Serbian deputy PM said and stressed that the atmosphere during the meeting with de Maiziere was positive.

The two officials discussed the situation in Kosovo and Serbia’s economic progress and the Serbian deputy PM asked the German minister not to reduce the number of KFOR troops in Serbian enclaves.

They also discussed bilateral and military and military-economic situation and participation of Serbian officers in training courses in Germany.

Vučić and de Maiziere also discussed import of machines for defense industry which has not been possible until now.

They talked about joint participation of Serbian and German troops in international operations in EU and UN missions.

Vučić is the first defense minister of Serbia who had an official meeting with his German counterpart in Germany in 11 years.

Vučić will later today address members of the Bundestag Committee on EU Affairs, which is chaired by Gunther Krichbaum of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Aside from the first deputy PM, Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Suzana Grubješić and parliamentary Committee on EU Integration President Milica Delević are also a part of the Serbian delegation.

Vučić, Grubješić and Delević will participate in a conference dubbed “The Balkans and European Future- the role of Serbia“ at the Robert Bosch Foundation.

"No new obstacles, only known criteria"

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Wednesday that the government in Berlin is interested in the process of Serbia's accession to the EU and its progress towards membership, adding that there will be no new obstacles posed before Serbia but the criteria already laid down will not be given up on.

"I want to underline that the activities conducted by the German government, especially over the recent years, have proven that we honestly think this way," Westerwelle told a press conference after meeting with Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić in Berlin.

There were comments about Germany only falling on the use of empty diplomatic phrases and words, but we have managed to prove that this is not the case as everything we said was followed by strong actions, said Westerwelle.

"We fulfilled everything and acted in line with everything that I promised during my visit to Belgrade," Westerwelle stressed.

He pointed out that the time has come for further steps to be made in Serbia's European integration process, which means opening accession negotiations between Serbia and EU, but stressed that this depends on the fulfillment of the criteria already laid down.

He pointed to the importance of the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, based on the results of which Germany will be making its decision.

"The support for Serbia's EU accession perspective is not coming only from the German government, but also from a large majority in the Bundestag, which is very important, given that there is no controversy over this issue between the ruling coalition and the opposition," Westerwelle said.

He stressed that this is very important for Serbia as Germany will hold elections this year.

He said that Serbia is a very important partner country for Germany, adding that Germany is supporting it on its path to the EU and that Serbia is facing important weeks on the EU road, which is why it is important for the two countries to continue fostering the close contacts they have established.

"Germany supports the European perspective of the Western Balkans and we want to help Serbia on its road to the EU," said Westerwelle, adding that this process involves certain pre-conditions, which bind all the candidates, and which Serbia needs to meet in order create the conditions for the opening of accession negotiations.

"We wish Serbia to continue on the path to the EU," the German foreign minister said. When it comes to the criteria, Germany will not give up on any of the existing ones, but will pose no new ones before Serbia, he added.

He said that the membership talks will be conducted in a fair and partnership-like manner.

Germany welcomes the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština and expects it to lead to concrete results aimed at making "significant progress in the normalization of relations", he said.

The existing conflicts and problems cannot be solved overnight, Westerwelle said. Reconciliation is a long process, which is something that we know very well, he added.

"From the German point of view, it is important to apply certain principles, such as the resolution of conflicts in the spirit of good neighborly relations, coexistence and the rule of law," Westwerwelle said.