Daily: Ruling parties not worried over EP head’s statement

BELGRADE The ruling parties are not worried about European Parliament (EP) President Martin Schultz’s statement that recognition of Kosovo is a condition for the EU. This is according to Belgrade-based daily Politika. Daily: Ruling parties not worried over EP head’s statement Representatives of the ruling parties believe this is a personal statement of the EU official. The fact that the EP president stands by his statement does not seem to alarm Serbian top officials, the daily writes. Belgrade has interpreted the statement solely as an opinion of the EU official and not as a new, insurmountable condition for Serbia’s EU accession. “He only said what was obvious. The (EP) president sees the fate of Kosovo and Serbia s future EU member states,” Radio Deutsche Welle quoted a statement from Schultz’s cabinet. Commenting on a denial by EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, who said that the EU did not request recognition but “normalization of relations with Kosovo”, Schultz’s office said in the released that the “EP president does not want to comment on what others are saying about the issue”. Assessing that it was an unexpected statement, Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Executive Board President Branko Ruzic told Politika that this was a personal position that “does not coincide with the official EU position in any way”. “It does not in any way contribute to an honest, at least when it comes to Serbia, strategic partnership that we are building with the EU. We therefore believe that a denial issued by other European officials is not enough and that it is necessary for Schultz, as the first among the equals, to advocate the policies advocated by the EU and to have such a position,” he underscored. When asked whether Schultz’s statement should be taken as a warning, he said he did not mull over certain politicians’ futuristic thoughts. Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubjesic’s advisor Nikola Papak says that such conditions are not acceptable for Serbia, no matter who voiced them. “Brussels knows this very well. Kosovo is not recognized by five EU member states. It does not say in any EP document that this is a condition for Serbia. This is Schultz’s personal position and not EU’s condition. Such position was denied by the top Brussels officials,” he told Politika and stressed that there were no new condition for Serbia. Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin agrees that this is Schultz’s personal opinion. According to him, Serbia does not negotiate with individuals, but with institutions. He stressed that anybody who expected Serbia to sacrifice its own Constitution for the sake of somebody’s personal stance “needs to know that Serbia is a serious state that respects international obligations but that it especially respects its own laws”. Vulin added that Serbia could not become an EU member if it did not respect its own legislation. Martin Schultz (file) Politika

Daily: Ruling parties not worried over EP head’s statement

Representatives of the ruling parties believe this is a personal statement of the EU official.

The fact that the EP president stands by his statement does not seem to alarm Serbian top officials, the daily writes. Belgrade has interpreted the statement solely as an opinion of the EU official and not as a new, insurmountable condition for Serbia’s EU accession.

“He only said what was obvious. The (EP) president sees the fate of Kosovo and Serbia s future EU member states,” Radio Deutsche Welle quoted a statement from Schultz’s cabinet.

Commenting on a denial by EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, who said that the EU did not request recognition but “normalization of relations with Kosovo”, Schultz’s office said in the released that the “EP president does not want to comment on what others are saying about the issue”.

Assessing that it was an unexpected statement, Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) Executive Board President Branko Ružić told Politika that this was a personal position that “does not coincide with the official EU position in any way”.

“It does not in any way contribute to an honest, at least when it comes to Serbia, strategic partnership that we are building with the EU. We therefore believe that a denial issued by other European officials is not enough and that it is necessary for Schultz, as the first among the equals, to advocate the policies advocated by the EU and to have such a position,” he underscored.

When asked whether Schultz’s statement should be taken as a warning, he said he did not mull over certain politicians’ futuristic thoughts.

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Suzana Grubješić’s advisor Nikola Papak says that such conditions are not acceptable for Serbia, no matter who voiced them.

“Brussels knows this very well. Kosovo is not recognized by five EU member states. It does not say in any EP document that this is a condition for Serbia. This is Schultz’s personal position and not EU’s condition. Such position was denied by the top Brussels officials,” he told Politika and stressed that there were no new condition for Serbia.

Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo Director Aleksandar Vulin agrees that this is Schultz’s personal opinion. According to him, Serbia does not negotiate with individuals, but with institutions.

He stressed that anybody who expected Serbia to sacrifice its own Constitution for the sake of somebody’s personal stance “needs to know that Serbia is a serious state that respects international obligations but that it especially respects its own laws”.

Vulin added that Serbia could not become an EU member if it did not respect its own legislation.