EU remains Serbia's strategic orientation

Serbian President Boris Tadić told Italian journalists on Monday in Trieste that he hopes Serbia will become a candidate for EU membership in March.

Izvor: Tanjug

Tuesday, 13.12.2011.

09:55

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Serbian President Boris Tadic told Italian journalists on Monday in Trieste that he hopes Serbia will become a candidate for EU membership in March. But that even if the decision is postponed once again, said he, the country will not give up on its pro-European orientation. EU remains Serbia's strategic orientation Asked about the link between Serbia's European path and the issue of Kosovo, Tadic pointed out Belgrade is open to finding a solution for Kosovo which would satisfy both sides, but cannot go beyond the point which threatens Serbia's territorial integrity. "Can you imagine some part of Italy declaring independence and some countries recognizing it. It would immediately cause internal instability. Kosovo is the cradle of our country and is very important for our identity, as it is where our medieval monasteries are located, so the issue naturally causes occasional quakes in Serbia," Tadic said. "We are looking for a solution which will be sustainable and acceptable for both sides. You cannot have a solution where one side gets everything and the other loses everything. We hope we will be able to arrive at a solution," Tadic said. According to him, Serbia will not recognize Kosovo's independence, but withing this framework it is possible to find a solution for the four key issues: how to protect the Serb population south of the Ibar, Serbian state and personal property, the holy sites of Serbian culture and religion, and find a special status for the Serbs in northern Kosovo. Asked if the European Council's decision to postpone Serbia's candidacy will invigorate right-wing powers in the country, Tadic said he understand the EU has had enough of conflicts and is unwilling to let Serbia bring in another unresolved conflict. "But I am convinced that with our pro-European policy, at the next election we will repeat the results from October 2000, when we defeated the nationalist political powers who tried to keep us away from the EU," Tadic said. A file photo of Boris Tadic (Beta)

EU remains Serbia's strategic orientation

Asked about the link between Serbia's European path and the issue of Kosovo, Tadić pointed out Belgrade is open to finding a solution for Kosovo which would satisfy both sides, but cannot go beyond the point which threatens Serbia's territorial integrity.

"Can you imagine some part of Italy declaring independence and some countries recognizing it. It would immediately cause internal instability. Kosovo is the cradle of our country and is very important for our identity, as it is where our medieval monasteries are located, so the issue naturally causes occasional quakes in Serbia," Tadić said.

"We are looking for a solution which will be sustainable and acceptable for both sides. You cannot have a solution where one side gets everything and the other loses everything. We hope we will be able to arrive at a solution," Tadić said.

According to him, Serbia will not recognize Kosovo's independence, but withing this framework it is possible to find a solution for the four key issues: how to protect the Serb population south of the Ibar, Serbian state and personal property, the holy sites of Serbian culture and religion, and find a special status for the Serbs in northern Kosovo.

Asked if the European Council's decision to postpone Serbia's candidacy will invigorate right-wing powers in the country, Tadić said he understand the EU has had enough of conflicts and is unwilling to let Serbia bring in another unresolved conflict.

"But I am convinced that with our pro-European policy, at the next election we will repeat the results from October 2000, when we defeated the nationalist political powers who tried to keep us away from the EU," Tadić said.

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