Prague to back Serbia's EU candidacy

The relations between Serbia and the Czech Republic are very good, said Serbian FM Vuk Jeremic and his Czech counterpart and Deputy PM Jan Kohout. As the two ministers met in Belgrade on Wednesday, they found that their countries have managed to isolate the only seriously open issue – the status of Kosovo – in such a way that it does not represent the obstacle for the further improvement of relations, reports said. Prague to back Serbia's EU candidacy "There are not many open issues between our two countries, and only one of them is serious, but we found the way to isolate the issue, i.e. the status of Kosovo and Metohija, in such a manner that it does not represent the obstacle for the further strengthening of the mutual relations," Jeremic told a press conference in Belgrade. Kohout assessed that the relations between Serbia and the Czech Republic are "friendly and excellent" and said that his country supports the European integration of Serbia and Western Balkans, adding that the Czech Republic will support Serbia's candidacy for EU membership at the meeting of EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs. The EU Foreign Ministers will soon have on their desk Serbia's application for EU membership. I convince you that Czech position will be absolutely positive, Kohout pointed out, stressing as very important that both sides – Brussels and Belgrade – keep the good tempo in the process of Serbia's approaching to the EU. Apart from the cooperation in the process of European integration of Serbia and the region, the two ministers discussed the political, security, economic and cultural cooperation, the promotion of trade and investments, cooperation on third markets, and they expressed hope that the bilateral relations will be strengthened in 2010. “An important portion of my talks in Belgrade will be dedicated to a return to the cooperation we had before the crisis, in 2008, and to ways to improve economic cooperation,” said the Czech minister. Kohout also stressed that his country was interested in investing in Serbia, “especially in energy and transportation sectors”. Kohout congratulated Serbia on the success achieved last year in the field of European integrations and underscored that the fact he chose Belgrade for his first foreign visit in 2010 testifies to the good bilateral relations. Ahead of the visit, it was announcd that he would also meet with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Euro-integration process Bozidar Djelic. Kohout and Djelic will focus on the further development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in view of Serbia's Euro-integration, as well as the support and the assistance the Czech Republic can offer in that respect, announcements said. The Czech deputy prime minister will also take part in the conference "Czech Republic and Serbia – cooperation for integration". Along with the Czech official, the participants of the conference will also be addressed by Djelic, Director of the Serbian European Integration Office Milica Delevic, representative of the Centre for Civil-Military Relations Miroslav Hadzic, Jagelo 2000 President Zbinek Pavlacik and others. Kohout and Jeremic in Belgrade today (Tanjug)

Prague to back Serbia's EU candidacy

"There are not many open issues between our two countries, and only one of them is serious, but we found the way to isolate the issue, i.e. the status of Kosovo and Metohija, in such a manner that it does not represent the obstacle for the further strengthening of the mutual relations," Jeremić told a press conference in Belgrade.

Kohout assessed that the relations between Serbia and the Czech Republic are "friendly and excellent" and said that his country supports the European integration of Serbia and Western Balkans, adding that the Czech Republic will support Serbia's candidacy for EU membership at the meeting of EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs.

The EU Foreign Ministers will soon have on their desk Serbia's application for EU membership. I convince you that Czech position will be absolutely positive, Kohout pointed out, stressing as very important that both sides – Brussels and Belgrade – keep the good tempo in the process of Serbia's approaching to the EU.

Apart from the cooperation in the process of European integration of Serbia and the region, the two ministers discussed the political, security, economic and cultural cooperation, the promotion of trade and investments, cooperation on third markets, and they expressed hope that the bilateral relations will be strengthened in 2010.

“An important portion of my talks in Belgrade will be dedicated to a return to the cooperation we had before the crisis, in 2008, and to ways to improve economic cooperation,” said the Czech minister.

Kohout also stressed that his country was interested in investing in Serbia, “especially in energy and transportation sectors”.

Kohout congratulated Serbia on the success achieved last year in the field of European integrations and underscored that the fact he chose Belgrade for his first foreign visit in 2010 testifies to the good bilateral relations.

Ahead of the visit, it was announcd that he would also meet with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Euro-integration process Božidar Đelić.

Kohout and Đelić will focus on the further development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in view of Serbia's Euro-integration, as well as the support and the assistance the Czech Republic can offer in that respect, announcements said.

The Czech deputy prime minister will also take part in the conference "Czech Republic and Serbia – cooperation for integration".

Along with the Czech official, the participants of the conference will also be addressed by Đelić, Director of the Serbian European Integration Office Milica Delević, representative of the Centre for Civil-Military Relations Miroslav Hadžić, Jagelo 2000 President Zbinek Pavlačik and others.