"IGC likely to take place by year's end"

BELGRADE EP Rapporteur on Serbia Jelko Kacin believes that an intergovernmental conference (IGC to formally open Serbia's EU talks will be held by the end of the year. The Slovenian politician also says that there are all necessary conditions for that, but warns about the things that could be an obstacle, primarily in the judiciary. "IGC likely to take place by year's end" “The conference could take place around December 20. That could also happen in January 2014. The European Commission did its part of the job, the European Parliament too, and my report also states that Serbia has deserved the intergovernmental conference to be held this year, on condition that Serbia does not make some big mistake," Kacin told Tanjug. The rerun of local elections in Kosovo on November 17, the run-off vote on December 1, and the situation in the judiciary still constitute a lingering danger, he noted. As regards the elections, he suggested that "all Serbs should be involved in the political life of Kosovo, and not just one list", but noted that it is the right of voters to choose. The Serbian government backed the Citizens' Initiative Srpska in local elections in the province. "Belgrade insists that only one option will benefit Serbs in Kosovo. That is not in line with EU values and that is not a step in the right direction," Kacin cautioned. Moves in the judiciary also constitute major issues, Kacin said, referring primarily to the fact that “the Serbian prosecution does not function.” The EU criticized the Serbian judiciary reform on several occasions, Kacin said. "If you have only two initiated cases after the new organization was introduced, that implies that the prosecution is either incompetent, or governed by ideology or castrated. I do not where the problem lies exactly, but your prosecution simply does not exist," Kacin said. That is why Serbia will experience problems when opening Chapters 23 and 24 (on judiciary) during the EU entry talks, the EP rapporteur notes. With the estimate that "Serbia is going faster and faster", and that the EU should encourage not only the government, but also citizens, Kacin pointed to the issue of support for minorities, underscoring that a pride parade was held in Montenegro, while in Serbia heads of intelligence services decide whether such an event will be held or not, which is, in his opinion, impermissible. Commenting on the genocide lawsuits that Serbia and Croatia filed against each other, Kacin took France and Germany as an example, which despite the past full of wars and conflicts, they now present a united front in the EU, standing "hand in hand". (Tanjug) Tanjug

"IGC likely to take place by year's end"

“The conference could take place around December 20. That could also happen in January 2014. The European Commission did its part of the job, the European Parliament too, and my report also states that Serbia has deserved the intergovernmental conference to be held this year, on condition that Serbia does not make some big mistake," Kacin told Tanjug.

The rerun of local elections in Kosovo on November 17, the run-off vote on December 1, and the situation in the judiciary still constitute a lingering danger, he noted.

As regards the elections, he suggested that "all Serbs should be involved in the political life of Kosovo, and not just one list", but noted that it is the right of voters to choose.

The Serbian government backed the Citizens' Initiative Srpska in local elections in the province.

"Belgrade insists that only one option will benefit Serbs in Kosovo. That is not in line with EU values and that is not a step in the right direction," Kacin cautioned.

Moves in the judiciary also constitute major issues, Kacin said, referring primarily to the fact that “the Serbian prosecution does not function.”

The EU criticized the Serbian judiciary reform on several occasions, Kacin said.

"If you have only two initiated cases after the new organization was introduced, that implies that the prosecution is either incompetent, or governed by ideology or castrated. I do not where the problem lies exactly, but your prosecution simply does not exist," Kacin said.

That is why Serbia will experience problems when opening Chapters 23 and 24 (on judiciary) during the EU entry talks, the EP rapporteur notes.

With the estimate that "Serbia is going faster and faster", and that the EU should encourage not only the government, but also citizens, Kacin pointed to the issue of support for minorities, underscoring that a pride parade was held in Montenegro, while in Serbia heads of intelligence services decide whether such an event will be held or not, which is, in his opinion, impermissible.

Commenting on the genocide lawsuits that Serbia and Croatia filed against each other, Kacin took France and Germany as an example, which despite the past full of wars and conflicts, they now present a united front in the EU, standing "hand in hand".