French FM weighs in on candidacy dilemma

French FM Bernard Kouchner has stated that "France supports Serbia on its European path".

Izvor: Tanjug

Tuesday, 03.11.2009.

10:43

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French FM Bernard Kouchner has stated that "France supports Serbia on its European path". He also said that Holland is "right as far as sentiments are concerned, but that it is politically wrong". French FM weighs in on candidacy dilemma In an interview published by Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti on Tuesday, Kouchner said that this would not be a good time for Belgrade to submit an official candidate status application to Brussels, but that he hopes that the Interim Trade Agreement will soon be unblocked, "which would enable for that to happen". The trade deal is part of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), signed between Serbia and the EU a year and a half ago and suspended immediately, with the Netherlands blocking its ratification and demanding Belgrade's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Kouchner told the newspaper that France supports Serbia in its efforts to become a EU member, adding that some rules must be followed. "France wants for Serbia to join the EU, where it rightfully belongs," Kouchner said. "For familiar reasons, actually because of Serbia's failure to arrest General Ratko Mladic, Holland refuses to mitigate its position. We respect and understand that Holland has requests regarding human rights issues. But my opinion is that this hindrance should not last for too long, as it is completely politically unjust." " I do not believe, however, that Holland's position is illegitimate when it comes to human rights or sentiments, but I believe that it is political. Therefore, there is this obstacle, and Serbia cannot submit its EU application at this point," stated Kouchner. In an interview published yesterday, Serbian President Boris Tadic said that Belrade would likely submit its official candacy bid by the end of the year.

French FM weighs in on candidacy dilemma

In an interview published by Belgrade daily Večernje Novosti on Tuesday, Kouchner said that this would not be a good time for Belgrade to submit an official candidate status application to Brussels, but that he hopes that the Interim Trade Agreement will soon be unblocked, "which would enable for that to happen".

The trade deal is part of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), signed between Serbia and the EU a year and a half ago and suspended immediately, with the Netherlands blocking its ratification and demanding Belgrade's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

Kouchner told the newspaper that France supports Serbia in its efforts to become a EU member, adding that some rules must be followed.

"France wants for Serbia to join the EU, where it rightfully belongs," Kouchner said.

"For familiar reasons, actually because of Serbia's failure to arrest General Ratko Mladić, Holland refuses to mitigate its position. We respect and understand that Holland has requests regarding human rights issues. But my opinion is that this hindrance should not last for too long, as it is completely politically unjust."

" I do not believe, however, that Holland's position is illegitimate when it comes to human rights or sentiments, but I believe that it is political. Therefore, there is this obstacle, and Serbia cannot submit its EU application at this point," stated Kouchner.

In an interview published yesterday, Serbian President Boris Tadić said that Belrade would likely submit its official candacy bid by the end of the year.

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