Czech Republic supports Serbia's EU integration

PRAGUE Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic said in Prague on Monday that Serbia “will not run after” a date for the beginning of EU membership talks. However, he noted that the new government would do everything to harmonize the entire legislative framework in Serbia with the standards and laws of the Union. Czech Republic supports Serbia's EU integration "We hope that this will be recognized and that it will be taken that we deserve the date for the start of negotiations,” said Mrkic. The minister, who is on a two-day visit to Prague, met with Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg for talks on European integration of Serbia, Kosovo, and bilateral relations. "The new government in Serbia is doing everything it to go through with everything that Serbia needs to do to join the European family. I have informed the minister (Schwarzenberg) about our recent activities, especially those concerning Kosovo,” Mrkic said at a joint press conference with Schwarzenberg. According to Mrkic, there are no outstanding issues between Serbia and the Czech Republic and Monday's meeting was also a preparation for the coming visit of Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas to Belgrade. Asked what would be the topics of the November 7 meeting between Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci , Mrkic said that the meeting would carry on where the last meeting in Brussels left off, and its agenda would include “everything”. “The two parties will decide what to discuss. There will be no conditions or any special restrictions set down. Of course, we all have our own special restrictions but everything is open for discussion,” Mrkic said. After the meeting, Schwarzenberg said his country strongly supported Serbia's European integration. He said that the Czech Republic was not in favor of any special mechanisms when it comes to the accession talks between the EU and Serbia. The Czech foreign minister congratulated Serbia on the results of the recent visit of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Belgrade and welcomed the holding of the first talks Dacic and Thaci. Rare are the states that the Czech Republic has such a good relationship with as Serbia, Schwarzenberg said, pointing to the support that Serbia has been giving his country throughout history. Ivan Mrkic and Karel Schwarzenberg (Beta/AP) Tanjug

Czech Republic supports Serbia's EU integration

"We hope that this will be recognized and that it will be taken that we deserve the date for the start of negotiations,” said Mrkić.

The minister, who is on a two-day visit to Prague, met with Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg for talks on European integration of Serbia, Kosovo, and bilateral relations.

"The new government in Serbia is doing everything it to go through with everything that Serbia needs to do to join the European family. I have informed the minister (Schwarzenberg) about our recent activities, especially those concerning Kosovo,” Mrkić said at a joint press conference with Schwarzenberg.

According to Mrkić, there are no outstanding issues between Serbia and the Czech Republic and Monday's meeting was also a preparation for the coming visit of Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas to Belgrade.

Asked what would be the topics of the November 7 meeting between Ivica Dačić and Hashim Thaci

, Mrkić said that the meeting would carry on where the last meeting in Brussels left off, and its agenda would include “everything”.

“The two parties will decide what to discuss. There will be no conditions or any special restrictions set down. Of course, we all have our own special restrictions but everything is open for discussion,” Mrkić said.

After the meeting, Schwarzenberg said his country strongly supported Serbia's European integration.

He said that the Czech Republic was not in favor of any special mechanisms when it comes to the accession talks between the EU and Serbia.

The Czech foreign minister congratulated Serbia on the results of the recent visit of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Belgrade and welcomed the holding of the first talks Dačić and Thaci.

Rare are the states that the Czech Republic has such a good relationship with as Serbia, Schwarzenberg said, pointing to the support that Serbia has been giving his country throughout history.