Deputy PM, EP official address controversial statement

BELGRADE First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic stated on Thursday that the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina "cannot secede from Serbia and that any such idea is unthinkable." At a joint press conference with Rapporteur of the European Parliament (EP) Jelko Kacin, Vucic said that he knows Kacin is not one of those who believe the secession is possible, and added that Kacin's recent "statement in the EP" was misinterpreted, Tanjug said in its report. Deputy PM, EP official address controversial statement “I can say this in Kacin's presence, because I know he also believes that Vojvodina cannot be separated from Serbia,” Vucic said. Kacin "agreed with this and added that his statement covered the possibility for Vojvodina to make greater use of EU funds through regional projects and thus accelerate its economic development," the news agency said. "The EP always believed Vojvodina is Serbia's biggest trump card on its EU path," Kacin said and added that all that Vojvodina would show and prove can serve as useful practice for other regions in Serbia and abroad. He said that the reports made by the media and the reactions which followed "derive from the fact that they did not see the overall image in his speech." Kacin specified that Brussels sees EU enlargement as a process and added that after Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro are the main factors which can stir others into motion as well. (Beta) "EP backs Serbia" Rapporteur Jelko Kacin has said that the European Parliament (EP) actively supports Serbia along the road to the EU, and is working on ensuring that an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) between Serbia and the EU be held as soon as possible - maybe even this year. At a joint press conference with Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday, Kacin said that this year the Serbian government has made big steps forward, and that is why it is not just a candidate country, but also a de facto negotiator. “Now, we are talking only about the date for holding the IGC and we are working on making this happen as soon as possible. January is the deadline, but we would like that to happen in 2013,” Kacin said. The EP will do another report about Serbia's progress that should be adopted in early 2014, he added. Kacin said that results that will be presented should have an impact on the decision to ensure that the IGC takes place as soon as possible, at which, following the screening, Serbia will start opening the negotiating chapters. He stressed that his talks in Belgrade are aimed at assisting Serbia in organizing itself for the steps ahead, and making sure that the wish that Serbia becomes the EU's 29 member state comes true. Tanjug

Deputy PM, EP official address controversial statement

“I can say this in Kacin's presence, because I know he also believes that Vojvodina cannot be separated from Serbia,” Vučić said.

Kacin "agreed with this and added that his statement covered the possibility for Vojvodina to make greater use of EU funds through regional projects and thus accelerate its economic development," the news agency said.

"The EP always believed Vojvodina is Serbia's biggest trump card on its EU path," Kacin said and added that all that Vojvodina would show and prove can serve as useful practice for other regions in Serbia and abroad.

He said that the reports made by the media and the reactions which followed "derive from the fact that they did not see the overall image in his speech."

Kacin specified that Brussels sees EU enlargement as a process and added that after Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro are the main factors which can stir others into motion as well.

"EP backs Serbia"

Rapporteur Jelko Kacin has said that the European Parliament (EP) actively supports Serbia along the road to the EU, and is working on ensuring that an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) between Serbia and the EU be held as soon as possible - maybe even this year.

At a joint press conference with Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić on Thursday, Kacin said that this year the Serbian government has made big steps forward, and that is why it is not just a candidate country, but also a de facto negotiator.

“Now, we are talking only about the date for holding the IGC and we are working on making this happen as soon as possible. January is the deadline, but we would like that to happen in 2013,” Kacin said.

The EP will do another report about Serbia's progress that should be adopted in early 2014, he added.

Kacin said that results that will be presented should have an impact on the decision to ensure that the IGC takes place as soon as possible, at which, following the screening, Serbia will start opening the negotiating chapters.

He stressed that his talks in Belgrade are aimed at assisting Serbia in organizing itself for the steps ahead, and making sure that the wish that Serbia becomes the EU's 29 member state comes true.