“Serbia's EU accession talks possible in June”

BELGRADE Before a decision on the start of EU accession talks is made, the EU needs to be convinced the Belgrade-Pristina talks will lead to normalization of relations. This is according to Finnish Ambassador in Serbia Pekka Orpana. “Serbia's EU accession talks possible in June” “Raising the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to a political level and achieving positive progress in the implementation of agreements reached in the dialogue are encouraging for now,” the Finnish ambassador told Belgrade-based daily Danas. “If the dialogue continues with such degree of commitment and in this shape, the talks are likely to begin in June,” Orpana said and added that the EU hoped that the conditions would be fulfilled by then. “After this, the pace of talks will mostly depend on Serbia's readiness to implement all necessary reforms and normalize relations with Kosovo,” he noted. Orpana underscored that neither Kosovo nor Serbia should get a chance to block each other's aspirations in terms of EU accession. He added that although it was not a NATO member, Finland was willing to share its experiences with Serbia because it maintained close cooperation within the Partnership for Peace program. Recalling the low level of commercial exchange between Finland and Serbia, the ambassador expressed the belief that the EU integration process would make Serbia more attractive destination for foreign investments, including those of Finnish companies. (Beta/AP, file) Danas Tanjug

“Serbia's EU accession talks possible in June”

“Raising the Belgrade-Priština dialogue to a political level and achieving positive progress in the implementation of agreements reached in the dialogue are encouraging for now,” the Finnish ambassador told Belgrade-based daily Danas.

“If the dialogue continues with such degree of commitment and in this shape, the talks are likely to begin in June,” Orpana said and added that the EU hoped that the conditions would be fulfilled by then.

“After this, the pace of talks will mostly depend on Serbia's readiness to implement all necessary reforms and normalize relations with Kosovo,” he noted.

Orpana underscored that neither Kosovo nor Serbia should get a chance to block each other's aspirations in terms of EU accession.

He added that although it was not a NATO member, Finland was willing to share its experiences with Serbia because it maintained close cooperation within the Partnership for Peace program.

Recalling the low level of commercial exchange between Finland and Serbia, the ambassador expressed the belief that the EU integration process would make Serbia more attractive destination for foreign investments, including those of Finnish companies.