Novi Sad summit gets down to brass tacks

Central European heads of state have supported the Western Balkans’ EU integration and visa liberalization at the Novi Sad summit. The main theme of the summit is European integration. While Balkan presidents spoke of the importance of the European perspective for their own individual countries, Czech President Vaclav Klaus said that his country favoured a Europe without borders. Novi Sad summit gets down to brass tacks Almost all 14 presidents in attendance underlined the significance of further EU integration. Those still waiting in the EU’s wings used the summit to reiterate once more their own countries’ need for membership, while presidents of countries already within the union stressed that the Western Balkan were a vital part of the EU. Opening the working part of the summit, President Boris Tadic said that the EU integration of the Western Balkans was in Europe’s interests, adding that visa abolition would be the clearest demonstration that those country were welcome in the European community. Tadic stressed that the EU must not put the Western Balkan’s integration on ice, as, otherwise, it risked doing irreparable damage to itself. He added that the region’s integration was in the interests of Europe’s integrity and security. The president said that achieving fully-fledged EU membership was Serbia’s key strategic priority. He said that Belgrade was doing everything in its power to arrest the two remaining Hague fugitives, adding that he expected that cooperation to culminate successfully. Tadic said that, although the issue of Kosovo had had repercussions for its relations with countries in the region that had recognized the province’s unilateral independence, Serbia was doing its utmost to overcome these problems for the sake of the well-being of the region’s citizens. Czech President Vaclav Klaus, whose country hods the rotating EU presidency, stressed his full support for the Western Balkan states’ EU aspirations. Klaus said that the Czech Republic was concerned that the EU decision-making process in the EU was becoming increasingly remote from its citizens. Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said that the EU was the natural goal of the countries in the region, and that he did not buy the argument that a fatigue for enlargement had set in. Mesic emphasized that Zagreb’s foreign policy ambitions would not be realized until all the countries in the region had entered the EU. Chairman of the Bosnian Presidency Nebojsa Radmanovic called for a transformation of the Office of the High Representative in Sarajevo into a special EU office, so that Bosnia-Herzegovina, which had its heart set on European integration, would be on a level footing with other countries in the region. Tadic, Mesic, (Serbian President's Press Bureau) Tadic, Mesic meet at Novi Sad summit The summit is also an opportunity for a series of bilateral meetings between the statesmen. President Boris Tadic met last night with the presidents of Macedonia, Italy and Croatia. Tadic and Croatian President Stjepan Mesic agreed that it was high time to launch the process of lifting secret indictments that exist in Croatia against Serbian citizens. Mesic explained that addressing that issue would enable the return of many citizens living in fear of secret indictments and lists. "We want them to return to Croatia as soon as possible. They are our citizens and Croatia can be presented to the world as a mature democracy only when its citizens can come to Croatia safely and securely, sort out their status and return to their houses, towns and villages," Mesic said. The Serbian president said that he had agreed with his Croatian counterpart that it was necessary to deepen bilateral relations between Serbia and Croatia, because they were a prerequisite for the stability of the entire Balkans. "We support each other in attaining EU membership with full strengh and absolute sincerity. We are not competing over who will enter the EU first. Whoever enters first—and I believe that will be Croatia—I think they will carry along all the other states of the region into the process of integration with the EU," Tadic said. The two presidents also conferred over the issue of demarcating inter-state borders. “Both sides believe the current inter-state borders should remain as they are as a temporary solution, and that this question must be resolved in the spirit of good-neighborly relations and cooperation,“ Tadic underlined. Tadic said that he had accepted his Croatian counterpart’s invitation to visit Zagreb, and would journey there in early September in all probability. “That will be an opportunity not only to talk in Zagreb, but in other places in Croatia, and to once more show that relations between the Serbian and Croatian people are improving,“ he added. Tadic also met with newly-elected Macedonian President Gjorgje Ivanov, where they both agreed that the EU should lift the visa regime for citizens of both countries traveling to the EU. The Serbian president added that despite divisive and open issues like Kosovo, the Macedonian and Serbian people should find as many points in common as possible.

Novi Sad summit gets down to brass tacks

Almost all 14 presidents in attendance underlined the significance of further EU integration.

Those still waiting in the EU’s wings used the summit to reiterate once more their own countries’ need for membership, while presidents of countries already within the union stressed that the Western Balkan were a vital part of the EU.

Opening the working part of the summit, President Boris Tadić said that the EU integration of the Western Balkans was in Europe’s interests, adding that visa abolition would be the clearest demonstration that those country were welcome in the European community.

Tadić stressed that the EU must not put the Western Balkan’s integration on ice, as, otherwise, it risked doing irreparable damage to itself.

He added that the region’s integration was in the interests of Europe’s integrity and security.

The president said that achieving fully-fledged EU membership was Serbia’s key strategic priority.

He said that Belgrade was doing everything in its power to arrest the two remaining Hague fugitives, adding that he expected that cooperation to culminate successfully.

Tadić said that, although the issue of Kosovo had had repercussions for its relations with countries in the region that had recognized the province’s unilateral independence, Serbia was doing its utmost to overcome these problems for the sake of the well-being of the region’s citizens.

Czech President Vaclav Klaus, whose country hods the rotating EU presidency, stressed his full support for the Western Balkan states’ EU aspirations.

Klaus said that the Czech Republic was concerned that the EU decision-making process in the EU was becoming increasingly remote from its citizens.

Croatian President Stjepan Mesić said that the EU was the natural goal of the countries in the region, and that he did not buy the argument that a fatigue for enlargement had set in.

Mesić emphasized that Zagreb’s foreign policy ambitions would not be realized until all the countries in the region had entered the EU.

Chairman of the Bosnian Presidency Nebojša Radmanović called for a transformation of the Office of the High Representative in Sarajevo into a special EU office, so that Bosnia-Herzegovina, which had its heart set on European integration, would be on a level footing with other countries in the region.

Tadić, Mesić meet at Novi Sad summit

The summit is also an opportunity for a series of bilateral meetings between the statesmen. President Boris Tadić met last night with the presidents of Macedonia, Italy and Croatia.

Tadić and Croatian President Stjepan Mesić agreed that it was high time to launch the process of lifting secret indictments that exist in Croatia against Serbian citizens.

Mesić explained that addressing that issue would enable the return of many citizens living in fear of secret indictments and lists.

"We want them to return to Croatia as soon as possible. They are our citizens and Croatia can be presented to the world as a mature democracy only when its citizens can come to Croatia safely and securely, sort out their status and return to their houses, towns and villages," Mesić said.

The Serbian president said that he had agreed with his Croatian counterpart that it was necessary to deepen bilateral relations between Serbia and Croatia, because they were a prerequisite for the stability of the entire Balkans.

"We support each other in attaining EU membership with full strengh and absolute sincerity. We are not competing over who will enter the EU first. Whoever enters first—and I believe that will be Croatia—I think they will carry along all the other states of the region into the process of integration with the EU," Tadić said.

The two presidents also conferred over the issue of demarcating inter-state borders.

“Both sides believe the current inter-state borders should remain as they are as a temporary solution, and that this question must be resolved in the spirit of good-neighborly relations and cooperation,“ Tadić underlined.

Tadić said that he had accepted his Croatian counterpart’s invitation to visit Zagreb, and would journey there in early September in all probability.

“That will be an opportunity not only to talk in Zagreb, but in other places in Croatia, and to once more show that relations between the Serbian and Croatian people are improving,“ he added.

Tadić also met with newly-elected Macedonian President Gjorgje Ivanov, where they both agreed that the EU should lift the visa regime for citizens of both countries traveling to the EU.

The Serbian president added that despite divisive and open issues like Kosovo, the Macedonian and Serbian people should find as many points in common as possible.