Koštunica: EC findings unacceptable

Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica says the conclusions presented by the EC today are unacceptable. Kostunica gave his opinion after the European Commission had stated that the Kosovo Albanians had declared independence, without adding that Serbia had nullified this decision. Kostunica: EC findings unacceptable He said that it was necessary to discuss “key matters for the country’s stability“ with Brussels—whether the agreement the EU was offering Belgrade presupposed Serbia’s integrity or not. The EC today published findings that Kosovo had clear European prospects and stated that Pristina had declared unilateral independence on February 17. It added that the EU would help the province in the coming period via the EULEX mission and through EUR 1bn worth of aid, the statement repeats. Meanwhile, the EC did not state that the Serbian government and parliament had declared the creation of a false state on Serbian territory null and void, said the prime minister. This meant, he said, that the EC considered the illegal declaration of February 17 valid, and the decisions of Serbia, an internationally recognized country and UN member, invalid. “These EC findings are completely unacceptable,” said Kostunica, adding that “every Serbian citizen knows that they signify the resumption of the most blatant violation of international law.“ The prime minister said that it was Serbia’s duty to “honorably, responsibly and without contrivance” discuss with the EU whether the legal agreement offered to Serbia envisaged, as he put it, “an intact or crippled country.” “That matter has to be resolved, and cannot be sidetracked with any sort of propaganda. No-one has the right to shut their eyes before these key questions for the country’s stability and future,” the statement concludes. Vojislav Kostunica (FoNet, archive) EC report: Serbia must confirm wish for European integration The European Commission (EC) has called on Serbia to confirm its desire for a European future. The EC adds that that path can be accelerated. These are the conclusions of a document on reforms in the west Balkans and measures for accelerating EU integration for the countries of the region entitled “Communications”, which Beta has had access to. “Serbia should play a key role in providing security, good neighborly relations and regional cooperation in the west Balkans,” the analysis stresses. It also adds, without any comments, that “the Kosovo parliament adopted a resolution declaring that Kosovo will be independent on February 17,” and states that the EU is determined to support the province’s political and economic development. “Kosovo, like the rest of the west Balkans, has clear and tangible EU prospects,” stresses the document and says that “with that aim, the EC will use all the instruments at its disposal to drastically accelerate democratic reforms, good neighborly relations and economic progress.” According to the EC document, “Montenegro's further progress towards the EU depends on strengthening the rule of law, particularly when combating corruption and organized crime, as well as strengthening public administration capabilities and a consensus on building state institutions.” Of the utmost importance to Montenegro’s progress towards the EU is “the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA).” According to the document, Bosnia-Hercegovina can expect to sign the SAA “as soon as it meets the remaining criteria,” while “the EC believes that, given the necessary political will and consensus, this can be achieved.” Among other things, the EC says that this year will be crucial for Croatian talks on EU membership, and that the country should carry out “substantial progress in key reforms and implement the established standards.” “Croatia must, without any further ado, settle the problem of the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone (in the Adriatic) in line with the conclusions of the EU Council of Ministers,” stresses the EC. The document states that Macedonia has to implement the standards and reforms established by the EC in order to show its readiness to open talks on EU membership.

Koštunica: EC findings unacceptable

He said that it was necessary to discuss “key matters for the country’s stability“ with Brussels—whether the agreement the EU was offering Belgrade presupposed Serbia’s integrity or not.

The EC today published findings that Kosovo had clear European prospects and stated that Priština had declared unilateral independence on February 17. It added that the EU would help the province in the coming period via the EULEX mission and through EUR 1bn worth of aid, the statement repeats.

Meanwhile, the EC did not state that the Serbian government and parliament had declared the creation of a false state on Serbian territory null and void, said the prime minister.

This meant, he said, that the EC considered the illegal declaration of February 17 valid, and the decisions of Serbia, an internationally recognized country and UN member, invalid.

“These EC findings are completely unacceptable,” said Koštunica, adding that “every Serbian citizen knows that they signify the resumption of the most blatant violation of international law.“

The prime minister said that it was Serbia’s duty to “honorably, responsibly and without contrivance” discuss with the EU whether the legal agreement offered to Serbia envisaged, as he put it, “an intact or crippled country.”

“That matter has to be resolved, and cannot be sidetracked with any sort of propaganda. No-one has the right to shut their eyes before these key questions for the country’s stability and future,” the statement concludes.

EC report: Serbia must confirm wish for European integration

The European Commission (EC) has called on Serbia to confirm its desire for a European future. The EC adds that that path can be accelerated.

These are the conclusions of a document on reforms in the west Balkans and measures for accelerating EU integration for the countries of the region entitled “Communications”, which Beta has had access to. “Serbia should play a key role in providing security, good neighborly relations and regional cooperation in the west Balkans,” the analysis stresses.

It also adds, without any comments, that “the Kosovo parliament adopted a resolution declaring that Kosovo will be independent on February 17,” and states that the EU is determined to support the province’s political and economic development.

“Kosovo, like the rest of the west Balkans, has clear and tangible EU prospects,” stresses the document and says that “with that aim, the EC will use all the instruments at its disposal to drastically accelerate democratic reforms, good neighborly relations and economic progress.”

According to the EC document, “Montenegro's further progress towards the EU depends on strengthening the rule of law, particularly when combating corruption and organized crime, as well as strengthening public administration capabilities and a consensus on building state institutions.”

Of the utmost importance to Montenegro’s progress towards the EU is “the implementation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA).”

According to the document, Bosnia-Hercegovina can expect to sign the SAA “as soon as it meets the remaining criteria,” while “the EC believes that, given the necessary political will and consensus, this can be achieved.”

Among other things, the EC says that this year will be crucial for Croatian talks on EU membership, and that the country should carry out “substantial progress in key reforms and implement the established standards.”

“Croatia must, without any further ado, settle the problem of the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone (in the Adriatic) in line with the conclusions of the EU Council of Ministers,” stresses the EC.

The document states that Macedonia has to implement the standards and reforms established by the EC in order to show its readiness to open talks on EU membership.