FM: Recognition of Kosovo not formal condition

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic says he believes that recognition of Kosovo could not be set as a formal requirement for the EU accession. “Whatever the views of some countries in the EU, Kosovo's recognition is unlikely to become a formal requirement for Serbia's EU accession, since it is certain some EU members will not change their negative view of Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence,” he said on Thursday. FM: Recognition of Kosovo not formal condition “Serbia is currently pretty far away from a decision about its EU accession, so it is pointless to waste time on such debates,” Jeremic stated in Luxembourg after a meeting with his counterpart Jean Asselborn. “Serbia faces a lot of work in EU integration in order to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, and when it is finished it will review the situation in light of what Europe itself and the rest of the world will look like then, but of course with respect to the democratic will of the people,” the Serbian minister stressed. Jeremic stated he did not think the people's opinion on such a fundamental issue could change. The Serbian minister said that Serbia would remain firm on its European course despite the “unfortunate” postponement of the candidate status. “It is unfortunate that, December 9, the meeting of the European Council did not bring about a formal decision to award Serbia the status of the candidate,” Jeremic noted. “I really wouldn't dare making predictions” about the possibility of Serbia getting the candidate status in March,” Jeremic said, adding that the whole issue was “not going to, in any way or in any shape, change our (Serbia's) determination.” “Serbia has done everything it could to obtain the candidate status and it is ready to make further efforts in that direction,” the FM added. He thanked Asselborn on the strong support Luxembourg had given Serbia so far and invited him to visit Belgrade in the spring of 2012. Asselborn commended Serbia's efforts in the implementation of reforms and its full cooperation with The Hague Tribunal. “It is our duty to give a positive signal to Serbia regarding the candidate status in February or March,” Asselborn said, adding that Luxembourg would continue supporting Serbia in its EU bid. During the meeting, the two foreign ministers touched on the problem of false asylum seekers, totaling about 900 such cases in Luxembourg in 2011, a topic Jeremic should discuss with Luxembourg’s Labor, Employment and Immigration Minister Nicolas Schmit later today. Vuk Jeremic (Tanjug, file)

FM: Recognition of Kosovo not formal condition

“Serbia is currently pretty far away from a decision about its EU accession, so it is pointless to waste time on such debates,” Jeremić stated in Luxembourg after a meeting with his counterpart Jean Asselborn.

“Serbia faces a lot of work in EU integration in order to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria, and when it is finished it will review the situation in light of what Europe itself and the rest of the world will look like then, but of course with respect to the democratic will of the people,” the Serbian minister stressed.

Jeremić stated he did not think the people's opinion on such a fundamental issue could change.

The Serbian minister said that Serbia would remain firm on its European course despite the “unfortunate” postponement of the candidate status.

“It is unfortunate that, December 9, the meeting of the European Council did not bring about a formal decision to award Serbia the status of the candidate,” Jeremić noted.

“I really wouldn't dare making predictions” about the possibility of Serbia getting the candidate status in March,” Jeremić said, adding that the whole issue was “not going to, in any way or in any shape, change our (Serbia's) determination.”

“Serbia has done everything it could to obtain the candidate status and it is ready to make further efforts in that direction,” the FM added.

He thanked Asselborn on the strong support Luxembourg had given Serbia so far and invited him to visit Belgrade in the spring of 2012.

Asselborn commended Serbia's efforts in the implementation of reforms and its full cooperation with The Hague Tribunal.

“It is our duty to give a positive signal to Serbia regarding the candidate status in February or March,” Asselborn said, adding that Luxembourg would continue supporting Serbia in its EU bid.

During the meeting, the two foreign ministers touched on the problem of false asylum seekers, totaling about 900 such cases in Luxembourg in 2011, a topic Jeremić should discuss with Luxembourg’s Labor, Employment and Immigration Minister Nicolas Schmit later today.