Jeremić on visit to Slovenia

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic is in Slovenia today to discuss enhancing cooperation between the two countries, as well as the situation in the region. Jeremic arrived in Slovenia last night at the invitation of Slovenian counterpart Samuel Zbogar, and immediately got down to business with his host at a working dinner, where they discussed the situation in the region and European matters. Jeremic on visit to Slovenia The two ministers continued their talks this morning on bilateral issues, and at a press conference held afterwards, Zbogar reiterated Slovenia's support for Serbia on its EU path, stressing that it was now the time, after the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), to take the next steps towards "unfreezing" that agreement. He added that provided all the conditions were met, this year could see liberalization of the visa regime for Serbia. Meanwhile, Jeremic highlighted the significance of the European perspective for the Western Balkans, stressing that Serbia's priority for 2009 was European integration, an area where Slovenia's would be more than welcome. He also took the opportunity to underline the significance of the meeting to be held in Brussels on January 26, where a formula is expected to found for solving problems pertaining to the SAA. The ministers also discussed a number of "open issues,“ including, at least as far as the Serbian side is concerned, a social agreement that the Slovenian side is still to sign, the issue of Serbian companies’ assets in Slovenia, the introduction of Serbian as an optional language in Slovenian schools, the issue of "the erased“ referring to finally resolving the status of around 18,000 permanent residents of Slovenia erased from the countries’ electoral registers in 1992, the majority of whom were Serbs. Besides these issues, there is also the status of minorities, which the Serb minority in Slovenia is still unable to acquire in spite of being the largest numerically, as a result of spurious provisions enshrined within the Slovenian Constitution pertaining to autochthony. Nevertheless, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry says that relations with Serbia are good, highlighting economic cooperation and the increase in the amount of Serbian investors in Slovenia, as well as in trade, which has now reached EUR 1bn. Ahead of Jeremic’s arrival, the Slovenian ministry announced that talks would focus primarily on implementation of the Agreement on Succession and Division of Yugoslav Diplomatic-Consular Property, as well as the issue of the assets of Slovenian companies in Serbia. The ministers are also expected to exchange views on EU expansion towards Serbia and the whole West Balkan region, as well as on the theme of possible Slovenian assistance and the resumption of the visa liberalization process. The Slovenian ministry says there will also be talk of the situation in the region, particularly Kosovo, “following the reconfiguration of the international presence and the deployment of the EULEX mission.“ Another topic could be the Kosovo Security Forces, whose creation Serbia opposes, but to whose formation the Slovenian government decided to donate EUR 30,000 on December 18 of last year. The Slovenian government announced at the time that “Slovenia is becoming ever more involved in forming NATO policy towards the Western Balkans, which is why activity and cooperation in the current fund for establishing the Kosovo Security Forces is important to Slovenia.” Besides talks with his host Zbogar, Jeremic will also speak to Slovenian President Danilo Turk, Prime Minister Borut Pahor, as well as Ivo Vaiglo, the chairman of the Slovenian Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee. In the afternoon, the Serbian foreign minister will attend a meeting at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce. Besides Jeremic, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn is also due in Slovenia today to meet with the Slovenian president. Vuk Jeremic (FoNet, archive)

Jeremić on visit to Slovenia

The two ministers continued their talks this morning on bilateral issues, and at a press conference held afterwards, Žbogar reiterated Slovenia's support for Serbia on its EU path, stressing that it was now the time, after the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), to take the next steps towards "unfreezing" that agreement.

He added that provided all the conditions were met, this year could see liberalization of the visa regime for Serbia.

Meanwhile, Jeremić highlighted the significance of the European perspective for the Western Balkans, stressing that Serbia's priority for 2009 was European integration, an area where Slovenia's would be more than welcome.

He also took the opportunity to underline the significance of the meeting to be held in Brussels on January 26, where a formula is expected to found for solving problems pertaining to the SAA.

The ministers also discussed a number of "open issues,“ including, at least as far as the Serbian side is concerned, a social agreement that the Slovenian side is still to sign, the issue of Serbian companies’ assets in Slovenia, the introduction of Serbian as an optional language in Slovenian schools, the issue of "the erased“ referring to finally resolving the status of around 18,000 permanent residents of Slovenia erased from the countries’ electoral registers in 1992, the majority of whom were Serbs.

Besides these issues, there is also the status of minorities, which the Serb minority in Slovenia is still unable to acquire in spite of being the largest numerically, as a result of spurious provisions enshrined within the Slovenian Constitution pertaining to autochthony.

Nevertheless, the Slovenian Foreign Ministry says that relations with Serbia are good, highlighting economic cooperation and the increase in the amount of Serbian investors in Slovenia, as well as in trade, which has now reached EUR 1bn.

Ahead of Jeremić’s arrival, the Slovenian ministry announced that talks would focus primarily on implementation of the Agreement on Succession and Division of Yugoslav Diplomatic-Consular Property, as well as the issue of the assets of Slovenian companies in Serbia.

The ministers are also expected to exchange views on EU expansion towards Serbia and the whole West Balkan region, as well as on the theme of possible Slovenian assistance and the resumption of the visa liberalization process.

The Slovenian ministry says there will also be talk of the situation in the region, particularly Kosovo, “following the reconfiguration of the international presence and the deployment of the EULEX mission.“

Another topic could be the Kosovo Security Forces, whose creation Serbia opposes, but to whose formation the Slovenian government decided to donate EUR 30,000 on December 18 of last year. The Slovenian government announced at the time that “Slovenia is becoming ever more involved in forming NATO policy towards the Western Balkans, which is why activity and cooperation in the current fund for establishing the Kosovo Security Forces is important to Slovenia.”

Besides talks with his host Žbogar, Jeremić will also speak to Slovenian President Danilo Turk, Prime Minister Borut Pahor, as well as Ivo Vaiglo, the chairman of the Slovenian Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.

In the afternoon, the Serbian foreign minister will attend a meeting at the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce.

Besides Jeremić, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn is also due in Slovenia today to meet with the Slovenian president.