Nikolić: Serbia "swiftly" meeting its commitments

BELGRADE President Tomislav Nikolic said on Thursday that Serbia has begun meeting its commitments on the European path "in a swift manner." He stressed that the country "is ready to tackle problems." Nikolic: Serbia "swiftly" meeting its commitments "This means continuing reforms, implementing the Brussels agreement and promoting reconciliation in the region, a process in which Serbia is the initiator and a key factor," Nikolic said at a joint news conference after a meeting with EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule. The focus will immediately be placed on the key chapters, 23 and 24, which deal with the judiciary and fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security, the fight against corruption and organized crime, said Nikolic. "We want to tackle the issue of Kosovo under chapter 35, which deals with other issues," added the president. He noted that Serbia has already demonstrated in its talks with Pristina that it is prepared to take on all issues - freedom of movement, the justice system, energy and telecommunications. Some chapters will be particularly difficult and sensitive, but Serbia has been aware of what the conditions for joining the European community are for the past 12 years, he said. Nikolic said he is convinced an EU-Serbia intergovernmental conference, which will mark the official start of accession negotiations, will be held by the end of January. The technical process of analyzing and assessing reforms, i.e. the screening for every chapter of the EU acquis, will likely last through end of next year, said Nikolic. "We are standing before the Rubicon. Once we cross it, once things start to improve, we will realize that learning to turn our common suffering into a hope for a better future was not in vain," he said. "The better you till the soil, the better yield you will have. We are preparing the country with a lot of care, love and effort so that our children can reap the fruits of the future together with all of Europe's children," concluded Nikolic. (Tanjug) Tanjug

Nikolić: Serbia "swiftly" meeting its commitments

"This means continuing reforms, implementing the Brussels agreement and promoting reconciliation in the region, a process in which Serbia is the initiator and a key factor," Nikolić said at a joint news conference after a meeting with EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule.

The focus will immediately be placed on the key chapters, 23 and 24, which deal with the judiciary and fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security, the fight against corruption and organized crime, said Nikolić.

"We want to tackle the issue of Kosovo under chapter 35, which deals with other issues," added the president.

He noted that Serbia has already demonstrated in its talks with Priština that it is prepared to take on all issues - freedom of movement, the justice system, energy and telecommunications.

Some chapters will be particularly difficult and sensitive, but Serbia has been aware of what the conditions for joining the European community are for the past 12 years, he said.

Nikolić said he is convinced an EU-Serbia intergovernmental conference, which will mark the official start of accession negotiations, will be held by the end of January.

The technical process of analyzing and assessing reforms, i.e. the screening for every chapter of the EU acquis, will likely last through end of next year, said Nikolić.

"We are standing before the Rubicon. Once we cross it, once things start to improve, we will realize that learning to turn our common suffering into a hope for a better future was not in vain," he said.

"The better you till the soil, the better yield you will have. We are preparing the country with a lot of care, love and effort so that our children can reap the fruits of the future together with all of Europe's children," concluded Nikolić.