"Prague could help Belgrade on way to EU"

Czech ambassador to Serbia Hana Hubackova said that her country can help Serbia substantially in her EU ambition. Hubackova said that the Western Balkans will be a priority during the Czech Republic’s six-month presidency of the European Union, which will begin in January 2009. "Prague could help Belgrade on way to EU" “The Czech Republic is ready to speed up the process of visa liberalization and putting Serbia on the 'white Schengen List', as well as the process of European integration. Our slogan is that there will be a ‘Europe without borders,’” Hubackova told daily Vecernje Novosti. She said that she "does not believe" that the EU will make the recognition of Kosovo independence one of Serbia’s conditions for becoming a member, adding that Serbia will have to meet the same conditions as all other candidate states. “In the end, both Serbia and Kosovo will find their places in the European family,” Hubackova said. “The Czech Republic, during its EU presidency, which begins in January 2009, could be of significant help to Serbia,” she said. She said that “the history of bilateral contact and cooperation is long and rich, and gives the Czech Republic the role of a defender of Serbia’s European future.” Hubackova added that her country hopes Serbia will soon be allowed to implement the transitional agreement with the EU and the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), reminding that these decisions will depend greatly on the report of Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz. “It will also be very important for the [Serbian] parliament to adopt the SAA. The position of some EU member states is very principled in demanding full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, which means that Mladic and Hadzic must be extradited. Their arrests are, first an foremost, in the best interest of Serbia,” the ambassador said. Regarding the Czech Republic’s recognition of Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, she said that the government in Prague had a hard time making the decision, stating that President Vaclav Klaus is following events in the Western Balkans very closely and is very interested personally in the region. “He was concerned for a long time about the events in Kosovo, and after the recognition as well. His stances are very well known to Serbia,” Huba;kova said. She said that the Czech Republic still has no position on Serbia’s initiative for asking the International Court of Justice, ICJ, for its opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral proclamation. Hubackova said that besides the Western Balkans, the Czech Republic sees other priorities to be strengthening competition and the market of the EU, sustainability of the energy sector, the EU budget and strengthening of the EU’s role on the global level.

"Prague could help Belgrade on way to EU"

“The Czech Republic is ready to speed up the process of visa liberalization and putting Serbia on the 'white Schengen List', as well as the process of European integration. Our slogan is that there will be a ‘Europe without borders,’” Hubačkova told daily Večernje Novosti.

She said that she "does not believe" that the EU will make the recognition of Kosovo independence one of Serbia’s conditions for becoming a member, adding that Serbia will have to meet the same conditions as all other candidate states.

“In the end, both Serbia and Kosovo will find their places in the European family,” Hubačkova said.

“The Czech Republic, during its EU presidency, which begins in January 2009, could be of significant help to Serbia,” she said.

She said that “the history of bilateral contact and cooperation is long and rich, and gives the Czech Republic the role of a defender of Serbia’s European future.”

Hubačkova added that her country hopes Serbia will soon be allowed to implement the transitional agreement with the EU and the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), reminding that these decisions will depend greatly on the report of Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz.

“It will also be very important for the [Serbian] parliament to adopt the SAA. The position of some EU member states is very principled in demanding full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal, which means that Mladić and Hadžić must be extradited. Their arrests are, first an foremost, in the best interest of Serbia,” the ambassador said.

Regarding the Czech Republic’s recognition of Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, she said that the government in Prague had a hard time making the decision, stating that President Vaclav Klaus is following events in the Western Balkans very closely and is very interested personally in the region.

“He was concerned for a long time about the events in Kosovo, and after the recognition as well. His stances are very well known to Serbia,” Huba;kova said.

She said that the Czech Republic still has no position on Serbia’s initiative for asking the International Court of Justice, ICJ, for its opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s unilateral proclamation.

Hubačkova said that besides the Western Balkans, the Czech Republic sees other priorities to be strengthening competition and the market of the EU, sustainability of the energy sector, the EU budget and strengthening of the EU’s role on the global level.