FM on EU application, Kosovo

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said in Brussels on Thursday that Belgrade intended to apply for EU membership by the end of the year. He also once again urged Brussels to remain open to the integration of the whole of the Balkans. FM on EU application, Kosovo "We consider that the groundwork has been laid for Serbia to submit its official application for EU membership. We aim to do so by the end of the year," Jeremic said. The minister is on a visit to Brussels today, where he was scheduled to meet with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, and members of the European Parliament Group for Western Balkans. Addressing the European Parliament's Foreign Policy Committee, Jeremic said that Serbia is doing all it can in order to extradite the Hague indictees. "We cannot do more than we are doing at this time in order to extradite those accused to the tribunal." He also spoke about Kosovo, and said that "Serbia is the most reliable partner" of the EU mission in the province, EULEX. "EULEX's vehicles and property are not being burned or stoned by Serbs, but by [ethnic Kosovo] Albanians, not in Kosovska Mitrovica, but in Pristina," the minister noted. He also said that while the situation in Kosovo is "improving", it is "probably one of the capitals of organized crime in Europe". "Serbia has no means to fight that organized crime," he was quoted as saying. Jeremic also stated that Serbia has no closer or more important neighbor than Montenegro, and that he hoped the existing political differences would be resolved through joint efforts.

FM on EU application, Kosovo

"We consider that the groundwork has been laid for Serbia to submit its official application for EU membership. We aim to do so by the end of the year," Jeremić said.

The minister is on a visit to Brussels today, where he was scheduled to meet with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, and members of the European Parliament Group for Western Balkans.

Addressing the European Parliament's Foreign Policy Committee, Jeremić said that Serbia is doing all it can in order to extradite the Hague indictees.

"We cannot do more than we are doing at this time in order to extradite those accused to the tribunal."

He also spoke about Kosovo, and said that "Serbia is the most reliable partner" of the EU mission in the province, EULEX.

"EULEX's vehicles and property are not being burned or stoned by Serbs, but by [ethnic Kosovo] Albanians, not in Kosovska Mitrovica, but in Priština," the minister noted.

He also said that while the situation in Kosovo is "improving", it is "probably one of the capitals of organized crime in Europe".

"Serbia has no means to fight that organized crime," he was quoted as saying.

Jeremić also stated that Serbia has no closer or more important neighbor than Montenegro, and that he hoped the existing political differences would be resolved through joint efforts.