EU accession talks not conditional "on recognition"

President Tomislav Nikolić has said that the start of Serbia’s negotiations on EU membership "is not conditional on recognizing Kosovo."

Izvor: Jutarnji list

Monday, 07.10.2013.

12:11

Default images

ZAGREB President Tomislav Nikolic has said that the start of Serbia’s negotiations on EU membership "is not conditional on recognizing Kosovo." “If one can be a member (of the EU) and they did not recognize Kosovo's independence, then one can also become a member while not recognizing the independence of Kosovo and Metohija,” Nikolic told the Zagreb-based daily Jutarnji List. EU accession talks not conditional "on recognition" “The recognition of Kosovo is not a condition for the beginning of negotiations on membership of the EU. The European Union has five member states that have not recognized Kosovo's independence, and they have not been expelled from the EU,” Nikolic said. After all, the EU has a decision on being "status neutral" in its facilitation of relations between Serbia and the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina, he said. “The EU, of course, is making its decisions under the pressure of knowledge that influential members (of the Union) have recognized Kosovo’s independence,” he added. “Serbia has been very successful in expressing its view that the self-proclaimed Kosovo-Metohija independence cannot be recognized but Serbia can take part in talks with institutions in Pristina, with the aim of normalizing the lives of the citizens in Kosovo-Metohija and creating democratic institutions there,” said Nikolic. The Serbian president said that he has made his stance quite clear to everyone more than once. “I will certainly not support a decision for Serbia to recognize Kosovo independence by agreeing to see Kosovo and Metohija no longer a part of the Republic of Serbia,” he said. "If people would change the Constitution and make the decision, then I would agree with the people, or as someone who does not agree with it, move aside and let those who are able to come to terms with such a decision to continue to lead Serbia,” Nikolic said. (Beta, file) Jutarnji list Tanjug

EU accession talks not conditional "on recognition"

“The recognition of Kosovo is not a condition for the beginning of negotiations on membership of the EU. The European Union has five member states that have not recognized Kosovo's independence, and they have not been expelled from the EU,” Nikolić said.

After all, the EU has a decision on being "status neutral" in its facilitation of relations between Serbia and the provisional institutions of self-government in Priština, he said.

“The EU, of course, is making its decisions under the pressure of knowledge that influential members (of the Union) have recognized Kosovo’s independence,” he added.

“Serbia has been very successful in expressing its view that the self-proclaimed Kosovo-Metohija independence cannot be recognized but Serbia can take part in talks with institutions in Priština, with the aim of normalizing the lives of the citizens in Kosovo-Metohija and creating democratic institutions there,” said Nikolić.

The Serbian president said that he has made his stance quite clear to everyone more than once.

“I will certainly not support a decision for Serbia to recognize Kosovo independence by agreeing to see Kosovo and Metohija no longer a part of the Republic of Serbia,” he said.

"If people would change the Constitution and make the decision, then I would agree with the people, or as someone who does not agree with it, move aside and let those who are able to come to terms with such a decision to continue to lead Serbia,” Nikolić said.

Komentari 4

Pogledaj komentare

4 Komentari

Možda vas zanima

Mediji: Ultimatum za Srbiju 106
Politika

Mediji: Ultimatum za Srbiju

Višegodišnja dilema "Kosovo ili Evropska unija", koja je lebdela nad Srbijom, dobiće svoj praktični izraz sledeće nedelje, pišu mediji.

13:01

17.4.2024.

14 h

Podeli: