PM talks economy, Kosovo, NATO

PM Mirko Cvetkovic stated on Saturday that Serbia, as well as the EU, is based on two pillars: peace and economic development. Cvetkovic met with directors and editors-in-chief at the 19th General Assembly of the Association of the Balkan News Agencies - Southeast Europe (ABNA-SE) in Belgrade and said that the EU integration process and economic development are priorities which are common for all South-eastern countries, adding that as a result, their cooperation should be realized to the greatest possible extent. PM talks economy, Kosovo, NATO As for Kosovo-Metohija, Cvetkovic expressed belief that it is possible to find a mutually acceptable solution which would lead to historic reconciliation between Serbs and Albanians. We believe that it is not good to keep a conflict frozen for decades, but rather search for a solution which would open the doors to all EU opportunities. We are ready to enter a dialogue in keeping with the Serbia-EU Resolution on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice adopted at the UN General Assembly as soon as possible, Cvetkovic said. According to him, a lasting settlement of the Kosovo-Metohija issue may be reached only through dialogue and diplomacy that is by means which exclude use of force. Serbia would like to be an active participant in the European peace project, and therefore will increase its participation in the international peacekeeping missions, he underscored. Serbia is a member of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, and it is trying to find a way to increase its role in the program. Although steps toward NATO are not on the agenda, we are definitely in favor of cooperation within the PfP, and for participation in military and police peacekeeping missions, Cvetkovic said. Representatives of the regional news agencies showed greatest interest in the problem they share - economic crisis and possibilities of surpassing its consequences. Serbia's economy is in the post-crisis period, and although positive rates of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have appeared, this is not sufficient since the citizens cannot feel that a progress has been made compared to the previous period, Cvetkovic said. The prime minister added that Serbia is drafting a ten-year development program which will be based on investments, production increase, export boost and infrastructure investments. Mirko Cvetkovic (l) (Tanjug)

PM talks economy, Kosovo, NATO

As for Kosovo-Metohija, Cvetković expressed belief that it is possible to find a mutually acceptable solution which would lead to historic reconciliation between Serbs and Albanians.

We believe that it is not good to keep a conflict frozen for decades, but rather search for a solution which would open the doors to all EU opportunities. We are ready to enter a dialogue in keeping with the Serbia-EU Resolution on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice adopted at the UN General Assembly as soon as possible, Cvetković said.

According to him, a lasting settlement of the Kosovo-Metohija issue may be reached only through dialogue and diplomacy that is by means which exclude use of force.

Serbia would like to be an active participant in the European peace project, and therefore will increase its participation in the international peacekeeping missions, he underscored.

Serbia is a member of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, and it is trying to find a way to increase its role in the program. Although steps toward NATO are not on the agenda, we are definitely in favor of cooperation within the PfP, and for participation in military and police peacekeeping missions, Cvetković said.

Representatives of the regional news agencies showed greatest interest in the problem they share - economic crisis and possibilities of surpassing its consequences.

Serbia's economy is in the post-crisis period, and although positive rates of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) have appeared, this is not sufficient since the citizens cannot feel that a progress has been made compared to the previous period, Cvetković said.

The prime minister added that Serbia is drafting a ten-year development program which will be based on investments, production increase, export boost and infrastructure investments.