Tadić vows to "never abandon EU path"

Boris Tadic called a news conference in Belgrade on Friday to say that "Serbia cannot and must not renounce its European future". "Any other decision would have far-reaching and profound consequences to the lives of our citizens," the Serbian president and ruling Democratic Party (DS) leader told reporters. Tadic vows to "never abandon EU path" His address came following the announcement of the European Council that it was postponing its decision on Serbia's candidacy for EU membership. Tadic added that "regardless of whether Europe was facing difficulties, Serbia belongs in Europe". "We belong in Europe, Serbia belongs in Europe in terms of culture, economy, politics and security, and in every other sense," said he. Tadic went on to say that today's setback "would not not make him falter": "My stance is still that our path leads toward the EU and I will never abandon it." The president also explained that the condition "clearly put before Serbia in order to become a candidate (for EU membership)" was to give up on its position that Pristina - i.e., the Kosovo Albanian authorities - must be represented in regional gathering "under the mark of UN Resolution 1244". Asked by reporters who put such a condition before Serbia, Tadic said it was "all those who took part in the negotiations in the technical dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina". "That was the condition for (the granting of) the candidate status," he said. Looking ahead, Tadic noted that the country's policy toward Kosovo and Metohija was "in line with Serbia's interest to become an EU member state", and that it will not recognize Kosovo "either implicitly or explicitly". The province's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence nearly four years ago, but Serbia rejected the proclamation as illegal. Now Tadic says the issue of Kosovo "must be solved as Serbia does not wish to have a frozen conflict, and will therefore continue to look for solutions with its European partners". He also expressed optimism that Serbia would become a candidate for membership when this subject is revisited by the EU in February or March of next year. Tadic asserted that he would "continue with his policy" regardless of today's events: "I support a policy of preserving Serbian interests in Kosovo, preserving the interests and rights of our compatriots there. I will stay committed to this policy until the end," he was quoted as saying. "This means I am convinced that if we failed to get candidate status today, we will get it another time. We need to work every day to make that happen. This will be the policy I will pursue," Tadic said. (Tanjug)

Tadić vows to "never abandon EU path"

His address came following the announcement of the European Council that it was postponing its decision on Serbia's candidacy for EU membership.

Tadić added that "regardless of whether Europe was facing difficulties, Serbia belongs in Europe".

"We belong in Europe, Serbia belongs in Europe in terms of culture, economy, politics and security, and in every other sense," said he.

Tadić went on to say that today's setback "would not not make him falter":

"My stance is still that our path leads toward the EU and I will never abandon it."

The president also explained that the condition "clearly put before Serbia in order to become a candidate (for EU membership)" was to give up on its position that Priština - i.e., the Kosovo Albanian authorities - must be represented in regional gathering "under the mark of UN Resolution 1244".

Asked by reporters who put such a condition before Serbia, Tadić said it was "all those who took part in the negotiations in the technical dialogue between Belgrade and Priština".

"That was the condition for (the granting of) the candidate status," he said.

Looking ahead, Tadić noted that the country's policy toward Kosovo and Metohija was "in line with Serbia's interest to become an EU member state", and that it will not recognize Kosovo "either implicitly or explicitly".

The province's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence nearly four years ago, but Serbia rejected the proclamation as illegal.

Now Tadić says the issue of Kosovo "must be solved as Serbia does not wish to have a frozen conflict, and will therefore continue to look for solutions with its European partners".

He also expressed optimism that Serbia would become a candidate for membership when this subject is revisited by the EU in February or March of next year.

Tadić asserted that he would "continue with his policy" regardless of today's events:

"I support a policy of preserving Serbian interests in Kosovo, preserving the interests and rights of our compatriots there. I will stay committed to this policy until the end," he was quoted as saying.

"This means I am convinced that if we failed to get candidate status today, we will get it another time. We need to work every day to make that happen. This will be the policy I will pursue," Tadić said.