FM hopes for EU membership talks in 2010

Ahead of a EU ministerial meeting in Brussels, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic says he will meet with the Dutch representatives. The goal of this will be to "unblock Serbia's European road", the minister said. FM hopes for EU membership talks in 2010 Serbia wishes to start EU membership talks in the first half of 2010, during the Spanish presidency, he told B92 on Saturday. In Brussels on Monday, the minister will meet with the European Troika in an effort to coordinate the 2009 agendas of Serbia and of the European Union through active dialogue, it was announced earlier. "For the time being there is no full consensus in the EU on Serbia's progress and I will hold meetings in Brussels on whether there is a way to create that consensus. We have some new ideas, they are not a conspiracy against the Netherlands, but an attempt to find a way out of the current situation for the sake of Serbia, the whole of the EU and peace and stability in the Western Balkans," Jeremic said. He added that he will likely meet with the Dutch foreign minister on the fringes of the meeting tomorrow. The Dutch government refuses to allow an interim trade deal – part of the suspended SAA signed between Belgrade and Brussels last year – to be implemented before Hague fugitive Ratko Mladic has been arrested. Jeremic told B92 that this year, the central strategic priority of Serbia's foreign policy will be to accelerate EU integrations. Jeremic also commented on the recent setting up of the Kosovo Security Forces, KSF, and said that he will travel to New York next week for a meeting on this issue with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "I will speak about the concrete steps that the UN must take in order to reach a development of the situation that is improving, instead of deteriorating the situation in Kosovo. We will use all diplomatic means to remove everything that is in contravention to UN Resolution 1244." He added that he will tell EU officials in Brussels on Monday that Serbia sees KSF as a paramilitary and illegal formation, which must be disbanded. Jeremic said that Belgrade would express its dissatisfaction in the communication with NATO "in a much more direct fashion", and that the Ministry of Defense will be involved in that. He also reminded of a letter that President Boris Tadic sent to NATO and the UN. Tanjug reported in Saturday that Jeremic's meetings in Brussels tomorrow will include those with Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana. Vuk Jeremic (FoNet, archive)

FM hopes for EU membership talks in 2010

Serbia wishes to start EU membership talks in the first half of 2010, during the Spanish presidency, he told B92 on Saturday.

In Brussels on Monday, the minister will meet with the European Troika in an effort to coordinate the 2009 agendas of Serbia and of the European Union through active dialogue, it was announced earlier.

"For the time being there is no full consensus in the EU on Serbia's progress and I will hold meetings in Brussels on whether there is a way to create that consensus. We have some new ideas, they are not a conspiracy against the Netherlands, but an attempt to find a way out of the current situation for the sake of Serbia, the whole of the EU and peace and stability in the Western Balkans," Jeremić said.

He added that he will likely meet with the Dutch foreign minister on the fringes of the meeting tomorrow. The Dutch government refuses to allow an interim trade deal – part of the suspended SAA signed between Belgrade and Brussels last year – to be implemented before Hague fugitive Ratko Mladić has been arrested.

Jeremić told B92 that this year, the central strategic priority of Serbia's foreign policy will be to accelerate EU integrations.

Jeremić also commented on the recent setting up of the Kosovo Security Forces, KSF, and said that he will travel to New York next week for a meeting on this issue with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"I will speak about the concrete steps that the UN must take in order to reach a development of the situation that is improving, instead of deteriorating the situation in Kosovo. We will use all diplomatic means to remove everything that is in contravention to UN Resolution 1244."

He added that he will tell EU officials in Brussels on Monday that Serbia sees KSF as a paramilitary and illegal formation, which must be disbanded.

Jeremić said that Belgrade would express its dissatisfaction in the communication with NATO "in a much more direct fashion", and that the Ministry of Defense will be involved in that.

He also reminded of a letter that President Boris Tadić sent to NATO and the UN.

Tanjug reported in Saturday that Jeremić's meetings in Brussels tomorrow will include those with Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana.