"Serbia could get date for start of EU talks in April"

BERLIN Aleksandar Vucic told B92 in Berlin in Thursday that there was "a chance" that Serbia may be given a date for the start of EU membership talks in April. He made the statement after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's senior adviser Christoph Heusgen. "Serbia could get date for start of EU talks in April" The Serbian first deputy prime minister, however, was quick to point out that "difficult work" would have to precede such an outcome. According to Vucic, the talks in Berlin today "have not been easy", but he expects that German officials "cannot but notice the progress that Serbia has made". "There are still some things that the government has to do without violating national interests, so that it could get a date for the start of EU talks," he stressed. Vucic noted that he was "a skeptic who did not make optimistic statements" - however, he saw "a good chance that Serbia will get a date if it manages to push through the tightrope walk in the next month and a half". "The future position of Germany depends on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue," he reasserted, and added that "in that sense" Belgrade would not back down from its idea for an association of Serb communities to be formed. "That thing is not being brought into question," the top Serbian official stated. According to him, the issue of the court in northern Kosovska Mitrovica was "difficult", and required "a wider consensus". Vucic said he informed his interlocutors in Berlin about this. The first deputy PM further said that a date for EU talks was "important for the citizens of Serbia for economic and political reasons", as it would enable "imports of key machines and transfer of technologies for factories in Serbia, but also greater financial and economic assistance". Vucic also expects "further improvement of cooperation with Germany", and announced the possibility that "one of the biggest German companies might arrive in Serbia" - but did not reveal which. Instead, he said "this also depended, to a certain degree, on getting a date". Finally, asked whether a negative outcome could spell early parliamentary elections, Vucic said: "We were not here to whine, cry, or beg for help for our internal political gain, as some have done before. If Serbia does not get a date, the citizens will be informed about it clearly, and will decide who's responsible." (Beta, file) B92

"Serbia could get date for start of EU talks in April"

The Serbian first deputy prime minister, however, was quick to point out that "difficult work" would have to precede such an outcome.

According to Vučić, the talks in Berlin today "have not been easy", but he expects that German officials "cannot but notice the progress that Serbia has made".

"There are still some things that the government has to do without violating national interests, so that it could get a date for the start of EU talks," he stressed.

Vučić noted that he was "a skeptic who did not make optimistic statements" - however, he saw "a good chance that Serbia will get a date if it manages to push through the tightrope walk in the next month and a half".

"The future position of Germany depends on the Belgrade-Priština dialogue," he reasserted, and added that "in that sense" Belgrade would not back down from its idea for an association of Serb communities to be formed. "That thing is not being brought into question," the top Serbian official stated.

According to him, the issue of the court in northern Kosovska Mitrovica was "difficult", and required "a wider consensus". Vučić said he informed his interlocutors in Berlin about this.

The first deputy PM further said that a date for EU talks was "important for the citizens of Serbia for economic and political reasons", as it would enable "imports of key machines and transfer of technologies for factories in Serbia, but also greater financial and economic assistance".

Vučić also expects "further improvement of cooperation with Germany", and announced the possibility that "one of the biggest German companies might arrive in Serbia" - but did not reveal which. Instead, he said "this also depended, to a certain degree, on getting a date".

Finally, asked whether a negative outcome could spell early parliamentary elections, Vučić said:

"We were not here to whine, cry, or beg for help for our internal political gain, as some have done before. If Serbia does not get a date, the citizens will be informed about it clearly, and will decide who's responsible."