Dačić: Decision on EU talks historic event

BELGRADE The adoption of the framework for EU accession talks and the conclusion to start the negotiations with Serbia in January is a historic event, says Ivica Dacic. This is a historic event for Serbia, the day many generations awaited and the political goal of many politicians and governments, he told Radio and Television of Serbia. Dacic: Decision on EU talks historic event The prime minister said he was proud the current government had achieved that goal, adding that it marked the end of a very difficult beginning. "I would like to thank all those in the government and Deputy Prime Minister Vucic and, of course, President Tomislav Nikolic on the great work and political responsibility with which we led the country closer to the EU membership than ever before," he noted. It is a historic result of the current government, he stressed. There were two fears ahead of the ministerial meeting on Tuesday, because the most recent meeting with Pristina had not been very successful, he stated, but also thanked EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on being fair and saying that Pristina was to blame for it. The other fear referred to the text of the framework for the talks and the possibility of something absolutely unacceptable to Serbia appearing in it, he said. The term "full normalization" was replaced by "comprehensive normalization" in that document, he explained, stressing that "the most important thing was that the possibility of all the areas of the negotiations being connected to Kosovo had been erased." "It (Kosovo) will be negotiated within Chapter 35," stressed he. None of this would have been achieved had there been no progress in the talks with Pristina, Dacic pointed out. He also said that early elections were "not a priority," and would be called "only in case of a need, some problems, or a catastrophic crisis." (Tanjug, file) RTS Tanjug

Dačić: Decision on EU talks historic event

The prime minister said he was proud the current government had achieved that goal, adding that it marked the end of a very difficult beginning.

"I would like to thank all those in the government and Deputy Prime Minister Vučić and, of course, President Tomislav Nikolić on the great work and political responsibility with which we led the country closer to the EU membership than ever before," he noted.

It is a historic result of the current government, he stressed.

There were two fears ahead of the ministerial meeting on Tuesday, because the most recent meeting with Priština had not been very successful, he stated, but also thanked EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on being fair and saying that Priština was to blame for it.

The other fear referred to the text of the framework for the talks and the possibility of something absolutely unacceptable to Serbia appearing in it, he said.

The term "full normalization" was replaced by "comprehensive normalization" in that document, he explained, stressing that "the most important thing was that the possibility of all the areas of the negotiations being connected to Kosovo had been erased."

"It (Kosovo) will be negotiated within Chapter 35," stressed he.

None of this would have been achieved had there been no progress in the talks with Priština, Dačić pointed out.

He also said that early elections were "not a priority," and would be called "only in case of a need, some problems, or a catastrophic crisis."