"No shift in Germany's policy toward Serbia"

BELGRADE The outcome of the federal parliamentary elections in Germany "will certainly be a third term for Chancellor Angela Merkel." It will also "most probably bring the grand coalition between the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats, but any change in the balance of forces in the Bundestag (parliament) will not affect Germany's policy on Serbia." "No shift in Germany's policy toward Serbia" This was heard during a roundtable at Tanjug's Press Center, organized on Sunday evening as elections unfolded in that county. One of the participants of the panel, which was organized by Tanjug, Deutsche Welle and the German embassy in Belgrade, Ambassador Heinz Wilhelm is confident that the election results will not bring about a change in Berlin's policy on Serbia, adding that all parties holding seats at the parliament at the moment want Serbia to open accession talks with the EU as soon as possible. Tanjug said in its report that Wilhelm underlined "the fact that media reports presenting in a negative light the document which Germany and the United Kingdom put forward concerning accession talks with Serbia are unfounded, underscoring that it does not bring anything new, but rather contains well-known standards of the EU." "The document does not bring anything new, but rather calls for opening, besides Chapters 23 and 24, Chapter 35, which relates to a candidate country's relations with neighbors. It has been proposed that the chapter be considered from the very beginning of entry talks," he said. "Since the Kosovo issue is in the spotlight, it goes without saying that Serbia will have to continue dealing with the issue," the German diplomat said, noting that the Serbian government has been rather irritated that the issue of "relations with neighbors, primarily Pristina," will run through all chapters that are to be opened. Henri Bohnet, the director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, noted that Serbia is on the right track of getting the approval for the official beginning of EU accession talks at the December summit. "As a partner, Germany wants Serbia to realize that, and all parties in the Bundestag want that," Bohnet said, adding that it has been made clear to Serbia what is expected from it and that there are no new conditions. Bohnet noted that it is important that "the reforms and achieved agreements with Pristina are being implemented," and voiced confidence that Serbia will continue carrying out the process. Michael Erke, the director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, said that the current government of Angela Merkel "is maybe the worst for Serbia when it comes to conditions that Belgrade should fulfill on the path toward the EU." Erke said that there was "a fixation" in Germany's policy toward Serbia, "that has to do with the German past and not so much with Serbia itself." He noted that Germany "did not comment on certain problems in other crisis points in the world, such as Syria, while when it comes to Serbia, it is acting as a European hegemonist." Charles du Vinage, the director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, said that Serbia "can be proud of what it has achieved so far," adding that one should wait and see the outcome of local elections in Kosovo, but voiced confidence that Serbia will open accession talks with the EU in January. (Tanjug) Tanjug

"No shift in Germany's policy toward Serbia"

This was heard during a roundtable at Tanjug's Press Center, organized on Sunday evening as elections unfolded in that county.

One of the participants of the panel, which was organized by Tanjug, Deutsche Welle and the German embassy in Belgrade, Ambassador Heinz Wilhelm is confident that the election results will not bring about a change in Berlin's policy on Serbia, adding that all parties holding seats at the parliament at the moment want Serbia to open accession talks with the EU as soon as possible.

Tanjug said in its report that Wilhelm underlined "the fact that media reports presenting in a negative light the document which Germany and the United Kingdom put forward concerning accession talks with Serbia are unfounded, underscoring that it does not bring anything new, but rather contains well-known standards of the EU."

"The document does not bring anything new, but rather calls for opening, besides Chapters 23 and 24, Chapter 35, which relates to a candidate country's relations with neighbors. It has been proposed that the chapter be considered from the very beginning of entry talks," he said.

"Since the Kosovo issue is in the spotlight, it goes without saying that Serbia will have to continue dealing with the issue," the German diplomat said, noting that the Serbian government has been rather irritated that the issue of "relations with neighbors, primarily Priština," will run through all chapters that are to be opened.

Henri Bohnet, the director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, noted that Serbia is on the right track of getting the approval for the official beginning of EU accession talks at the December summit.

"As a partner, Germany wants Serbia to realize that, and all parties in the Bundestag want that," Bohnet said, adding that it has been made clear to Serbia what is expected from it and that there are no new conditions.

Bohnet noted that it is important that "the reforms and achieved agreements with Priština are being implemented," and voiced confidence that Serbia will continue carrying out the process.

Michael Erke, the director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, said that the current government of Angela Merkel "is maybe the worst for Serbia when it comes to conditions that Belgrade should fulfill on the path toward the EU."

Erke said that there was "a fixation" in Germany's policy toward Serbia, "that has to do with the German past and not so much with Serbia itself."

He noted that Germany "did not comment on certain problems in other crisis points in the world, such as Syria, while when it comes to Serbia, it is acting as a European hegemonist."

Charles du Vinage, the director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, said that Serbia "can be proud of what it has achieved so far," adding that one should wait and see the outcome of local elections in Kosovo, but voiced confidence that Serbia will open accession talks with the EU in January.