Serbia "expected to get EU talks date by end of year"

BELGRADE Ivica Dacic and Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis say they expect Serbia to get a date for the start of EU talks before the end of the EU presidency held by Cyprus. Dacic - one of deputy PMs and interior minister in the outgoing government, and Serbia's future PM - and the Cypriot foreign minister addressed reporters after their meeting in Belgrade on Wednesday. Serbia "expected to get EU talks date by end of year" They stated that the fact that the Cypriot minister's first bilateral visit after Cyprus' taking over the presidency on July 1 was paid to Belgrade confirmed the country's support of Serbia and its European aspirations. The current deputy prime minister and minister of internal affairs of Serbia and the Cypriot foreign minister expect the traditionally good and strong relations between the two countries to deepen in all spheres of life, especially in the economy. Dacic said that the new government would be firmly committed to the continuation of Serbia's European path. "The future ruling coalition, comprised of the Serbian Progressive Party, the coalition gathered around the Socialist Party of Serbia and the United Regions of Serbia, wrote in advance that it will remain on the European path, but also that we have to find a balance between our European course and the protection of national interests," Dacic said, explaining that the preservation of peace and security in Kosovo and Metohija is a vital issue for Serbia. "I am especially grateful for the principal position of Cyprus in connection with issues related to Kosovo and Metohija. Serbia has the same approach when it comes to the problems that Cyprus has with its territorial integrity issue," said Dacic. Dacic said that the Cypriot Minister had assured him that there would be no new condition for obtaining the date of negotiations. Kozakou-Marcoullis said that the country had good and strong ties with Serbia and that her visit was yet another proof of support for Serbia's EU accession. "I am here to reassure the Serbian leadership that Cyprus will do everything to help Serbia move forward in the European integration process. We had a good conversation, an open discussion and I have assured the future government prime minister of the EU position regarding European integration of Serbia," she said. During her official visit to Serbia on Wednesday, the Cypriot minister met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, as well as Serbia's former president, now Democratic Party (DS) leader, Boris Tadic. (Tanjug) Tanjug

Serbia "expected to get EU talks date by end of year"

They stated that the fact that the Cypriot minister's first bilateral visit after Cyprus' taking over the presidency on July 1 was paid to Belgrade confirmed the country's support of Serbia and its European aspirations.

The current deputy prime minister and minister of internal affairs of Serbia and the Cypriot foreign minister expect the traditionally good and strong relations between the two countries to deepen in all spheres of life, especially in the economy.

Dačić said that the new government would be firmly committed to the continuation of Serbia's European path.

"The future ruling coalition, comprised of the Serbian Progressive Party, the coalition gathered around the Socialist Party of Serbia and the United Regions of Serbia, wrote in advance that it will remain on the European path, but also that we have to find a balance between our European course and the protection of national interests," Dačić said, explaining that the preservation of peace and security in Kosovo and Metohija is a vital issue for Serbia.

"I am especially grateful for the principal position of Cyprus in connection with issues related to Kosovo and Metohija. Serbia has the same approach when it comes to the problems that Cyprus has with its territorial integrity issue," said Dačić.

Dačić said that the Cypriot Minister had assured him that there would be no new condition for obtaining the date of negotiations.

Kozakou-Marcoullis said that the country had good and strong ties with Serbia and that her visit was yet another proof of support for Serbia's EU accession.

"I am here to reassure the Serbian leadership that Cyprus will do everything to help Serbia move forward in the European integration process. We had a good conversation, an open discussion and I have assured the future government prime minister of the EU position regarding European integration of Serbia," she said.

During her official visit to Serbia on Wednesday, the Cypriot minister met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, as well as Serbia's former president, now Democratic Party (DS) leader, Boris Tadić.