Regional leaders urge speedy EU integration

The leaders of Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina on Monday met for an informal summit on the Croatian island of Brioni. They said that regional countries needed to cooperate fully and support one another in the EU integration process, since this was in the interest of the entire Western Balkans that in that respect no regional country was lagging behind the others. Regional leaders urge speedy EU integration Croatia and Bosnia backed Serbia's expectation that it will obtain a date for commencement of the accession talks, together with the EU candidate status. Speeding up of the EU integration process is in the interest of all the Western Balkan countries, since this is an issue of immense importance for this region, said Serbian and Croatian Presidents Boris Tadic and Ivo Josipovic respectively, and Chairman of the Bosnia Presidency Zeljko Komsic. At a joint press conference following the trilateral meeting, Tadic said that the participants of the meeting are of the opinion that Serbia should get a date for commencement of the EU accession talks as soon as possible. “We want all the regional countries to join the EU, because Croats, Bosniaks, and Serbs live in our countries,” Tadic said, adding that the states should create a good and stimulating environment in the region. Tadic said that Serbia and Croatia were signatories of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which did not mean they could interfere into the internal affairs of Bosnia. He added it was for the institutions in Bosnia and the people there to define the policy of their country. "I expect Bosnia to be a guarantor of the sovereignty of our countries," the Serbian president underlined. Tadic said that one of the conclusions of today's meeting was that no country in the region could become a leader, but that the countries should help each other and cooperate. Josipovic said that Croatia wants to help its neighbors on their EU pathways, and added that in the future the countries will hold such trilateral meetings at least once a year. The Croatian president said that the leaders also discussed prospects for economic cooperation, since the economies of these three countries are rather compatible. Komsic underlined that the countries should help one another, adding that it is in the interest of the entire Western Balkans that no regional country is lagging behind the others in terms of its EU integration. “All regional countries would like to join the EU as soon as possible,” Komsic said. Members of the Bosnia Presidency Nebojsa Radmanovic and Bakir Izetbegovic also took part in this meeting. (Tanjug) "Acceptable" Serb Republic (RS) President Milorad Dodik qualified as acceptable and beneficial all contacts that contribute to the stabilization and normalization of the situation in the region. Commenting on the Monday on the trilateral meeting of the leaders of Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina on the Brioni Islands (Croatia), Dodik told Tanjug that he backed such talks, because this was a legitimate process and meeting that should provide answers to certain questions. He underlined that the normalization of relations between Serbia and Croatia was highly desirable, "since they are the key partners in the region and to Bosnia-Herzegovina".

Regional leaders urge speedy EU integration

Croatia and Bosnia backed Serbia's expectation that it will obtain a date for commencement of the accession talks, together with the EU candidate status.

Speeding up of the EU integration process is in the interest of all the Western Balkan countries, since this is an issue of immense importance for this region, said Serbian and Croatian Presidents Boris Tadić and Ivo Josipović respectively, and Chairman of the Bosnia Presidency Željko Komšić.

At a joint press conference following the trilateral meeting, Tadić said that the participants of the meeting are of the opinion that Serbia should get a date for commencement of the EU accession talks as soon as possible.

“We want all the regional countries to join the EU, because Croats, Bosniaks, and Serbs live in our countries,” Tadić said, adding that the states should create a good and stimulating environment in the region.

Tadić said that Serbia and Croatia were signatories of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which did not mean they could interfere into the internal affairs of Bosnia.

He added it was for the institutions in Bosnia and the people there to define the policy of their country.

"I expect Bosnia to be a guarantor of the sovereignty of our countries," the Serbian president underlined.

Tadić said that one of the conclusions of today's meeting was that no country in the region could become a leader, but that the countries should help each other and cooperate.

Josipović said that Croatia wants to help its neighbors on their EU pathways, and added that in the future the countries will hold such trilateral meetings at least once a year.

The Croatian president said that the leaders also discussed prospects for economic cooperation, since the economies of these three countries are rather compatible.

Komšić underlined that the countries should help one another, adding that it is in the interest of the entire Western Balkans that no regional country is lagging behind the others in terms of its EU integration.

“All regional countries would like to join the EU as soon as possible,” Komšić said.

Members of the Bosnia Presidency Nebojsa Radmanović and Bakir Izetbegović also took part in this meeting.

"Acceptable"

Serb Republic (RS) President Milorad Dodik qualified as acceptable and beneficial all contacts that contribute to the stabilization and normalization of the situation in the region.

Commenting on the Monday on the trilateral meeting of the leaders of Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina on the Brioni Islands (Croatia), Dodik told Tanjug that he backed such talks, because this was a legitimate process and meeting that should provide answers to certain questions.

He underlined that the normalization of relations between Serbia and Croatia was highly desirable, "since they are the key partners in the region and to Bosnia-Herzegovina".