"EU integration depends on Serbia herself"

The Danish foreign minister and the Slovenian PM believe Serbia’s progress towards the EU depends primarily on itself. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who is on a two day visit to Slovenia, said that the EU would respect the results of democratic elections in Serbia, and regardless of the winner, continue to give off positive political signals, although further progress would in any case depend on political developments in Serbia. "EU integration depends on Serbia herself" Rasmussen added that the condition of full Hague Tribunal cooperation “should not exclude the monumental positive steps (taken by Brussels) to demonstrate the will to enhance relations between Serbia and the EU,” though it was then up to Serbia to ensure further progress in those relations.” Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, whose country is currently chairing the EU, added that the EU would respect the results of this weekend’s presidential elections, and continue to send positive signals to Belgrade, though the future speed of the country’s EU integration depended entirely on Serbia herself. Jansa added that given the presidential candidate’s contrasting manifestos, “the election results would probably have a bearing on the speed of that journey,” which the electorate itself would decide about on February 3. It was up to the Serbian people to decide the identity of their next president, while signature of the political agreement that the EU offered Serbia was further proof that it was considered part of the European family, said the Slovenian prime minister. However, “that doesn’t mean that Serbia should not meet certain conditions,” he said, asked how the EU would react if Serb Radical Party (SRS) candidate Tomislav Nikolic was elected. Asked of a potential declaration of independence by the Kosovo Albanians in the week after the second round of the elections, Jansa replied that the EU had adopted a starting point at the Council of Europe meeting in December on that matter, and that part of that political framework was “the expectation that nothing unilateral would take place in Kosovo.” The Slovenian prime minister also warned that “irresponsible unilateral moves can only destabilize the situation.” Rasmussen wrapped up by expressing the hope that the EU would adopt a decision on sending its mission to the province, saying that it could happen in early February. Jeremic: EU offer "historic" Serbia must decide whether it wishes to join the EU as no-one can do so against their will, says Vuk Jeremic. The foreign minister said last night that what Brussels was offering Serbia, in the shape of a free trade and visa liberalization “transitional” agreement, was historic as all EU members had agreed on it. He said that Serbia would have the opportunity to decide for herself on February 3, and that if it decided in favor, Serbia would put itself forward for fully-fledged EU membership. According to Jeremic, if Serbia decides to accept the Eu's direct offer, the document would be signed on February 7. “If Serbia makes the right choice, then a political agreement will be signed on February 7, which the Dutch foreign minister has already given his signed approval to in my presence,” he added. The foreign minister said that there had been no talk of the proposed EU mission to Kosovo as “there is no consensus within the EU over sending the mission to Kosovo.” Jeremic said that “sending an EU mission is very problematic without a new Security Council decision,“ adding there were a number of EU member-states that “understand this very well.“ He said that, on behalf of the government, he had “conveyed the firm view that the EU was welcome in Serbia, as well as in Kosovo, provided that a clear legal framework exists – and the only real framework for this can be a new Security Council resolution, which looks unlikely.“

"EU integration depends on Serbia herself"

Rasmussen added that the condition of full Hague Tribunal cooperation “should not exclude the monumental positive steps (taken by Brussels) to demonstrate the will to enhance relations between Serbia and the EU,” though it was then up to Serbia to ensure further progress in those relations.”

Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, whose country is currently chairing the EU, added that the EU would respect the results of this weekend’s presidential elections, and continue to send positive signals to Belgrade, though the future speed of the country’s EU integration depended entirely on Serbia herself.

Janša added that given the presidential candidate’s contrasting manifestos, “the election results would probably have a bearing on the speed of that journey,” which the electorate itself would decide about on February 3.

It was up to the Serbian people to decide the identity of their next president, while signature of the political agreement that the EU offered Serbia was further proof that it was considered part of the European family, said the Slovenian prime minister.

However, “that doesn’t mean that Serbia should not meet certain conditions,” he said, asked how the EU would react if Serb Radical Party (SRS) candidate Tomislav Nikolić was elected.

Asked of a potential declaration of independence by the Kosovo Albanians in the week after the second round of the elections, Janša replied that the EU had adopted a starting point at the Council of Europe meeting in December on that matter, and that part of that political framework was “the expectation that nothing unilateral would take place in Kosovo.”

The Slovenian prime minister also warned that “irresponsible unilateral moves can only destabilize the situation.”

Rasmussen wrapped up by expressing the hope that the EU would adopt a decision on sending its mission to the province, saying that it could happen in early February.

Jeremić: EU offer "historic"

Serbia must decide whether it wishes to join the EU as no-one can do so against their will, says Vuk Jeremić.

The foreign minister said last night that what Brussels was offering Serbia, in the shape of a free trade and visa liberalization “transitional” agreement, was historic as all EU members had agreed on it.

He said that Serbia would have the opportunity to decide for herself on February 3, and that if it decided in favor, Serbia would put itself forward for fully-fledged EU membership.

According to Jeremić, if Serbia decides to accept the Eu's direct offer, the document would be signed on February 7.

“If Serbia makes the right choice, then a political agreement will be signed on February 7, which the Dutch foreign minister has already given his signed approval to in my presence,” he added.

The foreign minister said that there had been no talk of the proposed EU mission to Kosovo as “there is no consensus within the EU over sending the mission to Kosovo.”

Jeremić said that “sending an EU mission is very problematic without a new Security Council decision,“ adding there were a number of EU member-states that “understand this very well.“

He said that, on behalf of the government, he had “conveyed the firm view that the EU was welcome in Serbia, as well as in Kosovo, provided that a clear legal framework exists – and the only real framework for this can be a new Security Council resolution, which looks unlikely.“