"No new German conditions"

"No new German conditions"

The unnamed sourced close to the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel were also quoted as saying that Berlin was "totally shocked and surprised by the latest speculations of some media in Serbia."

"The German government does not have any new conditions, it was already known that it is necessary to apply the Brussels agreement. Official Berlin does not know whether it is a fabrication of certain media in Serbia or simply a misunderstanding," the sources were quoted as saying.

These media reports said that Germany is demanding the statute of the future community of Serb municipalities in Kosovo to be produced in accordance with the laws of Pristina, as well as an agreement on assigning a country code for Kosovo and Metohija, integration of civil defense into the Pristina-based system, construction of brick buildings at crossings, implementing of an agreement on energy, removal of the Park of Peace in Kosovska Mitrovica, stopping of smuggling at illegal crossings, accepting passports of Kosovo at the borders, Pristina's participation in all regional forums, Pristina's taking over of Gazivode and Vlac, and the local government entering the Kosovo system.

According to media reports, Belgrade has begun a comprehensive diplomatic action in order to "reformulate" as soon as the Brussels recommendations and to open the first chapter in the EU accession talks.

The daily said that Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic yesterday did not answer when asked if it was true that Belgrade was "on a diplomatic offensive."

"Serbia will have to meet the requirements placed before it by Brussels and member states, especially Germany, if it wants to progress in European integration. By these conditions Serbia is not forced to directly or indirectly recognize Kosovo, but to normalize relations with Kosovo. In this regard, the sooner Serbia begins fulfilling the obligations of the Brussels agreement, member states will have the basis on which to assess its progress and decide on the opening of the first chapter in the negotiations," the Danas newspaper quoted unnamed diplomatic circles in Belgrade.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said yesterday, commenting on "11 impossible conditions from Germany" that "it does not say anywhere that Serbia must recognize Kosovo."

"Our policy is to stay on the European path and preserve the integrity. No agreement has been either good or perfect for us," he said and added that Serbia was "pressed from different sides and is in a difficult situation, but is strong enough."

He stressed that it is not necessary "to talk to Serbia about enlargement fatigue, because it exists in Serbia as well, only it will not change the government's decision to stay on this path." The reason, he said, is because his government " does not pander to the citizens, but leads a policy it thinks is best for Serbia."

"No delays"

Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport said on Tuesday there were "no delays in the EU accession talks with Serbia," and that, quite the contrary, "the process was very active and dynamic."

"It is important to say that there are no delays in the negotiating process. This week I've heard from the people who should be in the know that there have been delays. That's not true," Davenport said at a conference on pre-accession EU IPA2 assistance.

Davenport said that the screening of Serbia's legislature against the EU legal framework as provided by Chapter 23 was finalized, and that screening reports were being prepared. He added that EU members would decide on further steps in the negotiating process, the Beta agency reported.

The EU official explained that action plans for Chapters 23 and 24 were under way, and that the European Commission was sent a draft action plan for Chapter 23, and that it would study it carefully.