Prime minister confers with Irish officials

DUBLIN Serbia’s Prime Minister Ivica Dacic is visiting Dublin today for meetings with officials of Ireland - the country that is currently presiding over the EU. Dacic met with the speaker of the lower house of the Irish parliament, Sean Barrett, and Justice Minister Alan Shatter. Prime minister confers with Irish officials According to a Serbian government statement, "certainty was expressed during the meeting that Serbia would get the start date for the accession talks during Ireland's presidency of the EU." "During the meeting, there were positive opinions about the reforms conducted by the Serbian government and the support for Serbia's EU integration was extended. There was certainty that Serbia would get the start date for the talks during Ireland's presidency of the EU," the statement said, Dacic and the Irish officials stressed the importance of the talks between Belgrade and Pristina, adding they believed the dialogue would bring "fair solutions for the problems in Kosovo" and contribute towards regional stability, the statement says. The Serbian prime minister also met with his Irish counterpart Enda Kenny in Dublin on Thursday, and said afterwards that Ireland was one of the chief advocates of giving Serbia the start date for the accession talks with the EU, adding that he hoped the decision would be made during Ireland's presidency of the EU. "I am very pleased to see that Ireland, as the presiding country of the EU, will be one of the strongest advocates of supporting Serbia, that is to grant it the start date for the talks, which I think is of vital interest for all the people of Serbia," Dacic said, according to a statement from the government office for media relations. He pointed out he had discussed with Kenny Serbia's EU integration, and that the government expected Serbia to be given the start date for the accession talks by the end of Ireland's presidency, that is June this year. Dacic informed Kenny about the talks with Pristina so far. "Serbia wants this problem solved in a mutually acceptable way, to find a sustainable solution that would be in the interest of both the ethnic Albanians and Serbs," Dacic remarked. Dacic believes any negative response from the EU concerning the start date for the accession talks would be counterproductive and kill the dialogue, the statement says. "Good news is needed to encourage dialogue. No one can expect centuries-old problems to be solved over night, since we are not discussing status related issues," Dacic said. He stated he had presented Kenny with Serbia's proposal, defined in a resolution and platform. "Of course, we talked about Ireland's experience from its own history. I think our agreement is very clear, and it is that Ireland will give maximum support for Serbia's EU integration," Dacic noted. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton is expected to present a report to the European Council in April and the council should then decide in June on the date for the start of the accession talks, Dacic pointed out. Ivica Dacic (Beta, file) Tanjug

Prime minister confers with Irish officials

According to a Serbian government statement, "certainty was expressed during the meeting that Serbia would get the start date for the accession talks during Ireland's presidency of the EU."

"During the meeting, there were positive opinions about the reforms conducted by the Serbian government and the support for Serbia's EU integration was extended. There was certainty that Serbia would get the start date for the talks during Ireland's presidency of the EU," the statement said,

Dačić and the Irish officials stressed the importance of the talks between Belgrade and Priština, adding they believed the dialogue would bring "fair solutions for the problems in Kosovo" and contribute towards regional stability, the statement says.

The Serbian prime minister also met with his Irish counterpart Enda Kenny in Dublin on Thursday, and said afterwards that Ireland was one of the chief advocates of giving Serbia the start date for the accession talks with the EU, adding that he hoped the decision would be made during Ireland's presidency of the EU.

"I am very pleased to see that Ireland, as the presiding country of the EU, will be one of the strongest advocates of supporting Serbia, that is to grant it the start date for the talks, which I think is of vital interest for all the people of Serbia," Dačić said, according to a statement from the government office for media relations.

He pointed out he had discussed with Kenny Serbia's EU integration, and that the government expected Serbia to be given the start date for the accession talks by the end of Ireland's presidency, that is June this year.

Dačić informed Kenny about the talks with Priština so far.

"Serbia wants this problem solved in a mutually acceptable way, to find a sustainable solution that would be in the interest of both the ethnic Albanians and Serbs," Dačić remarked.

Dačić believes any negative response from the EU concerning the start date for the accession talks would be counterproductive and kill the dialogue, the statement says.

"Good news is needed to encourage dialogue. No one can expect centuries-old problems to be solved over night, since we are not discussing status related issues," Dačić said.

He stated he had presented Kenny with Serbia's proposal, defined in a resolution and platform.

"Of course, we talked about Ireland's experience from its own history. I think our agreement is very clear, and it is that Ireland will give maximum support for Serbia's EU integration," Dačić noted.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton is expected to present a report to the European Council in April and the council should then decide in June on the date for the start of the accession talks, Dačić pointed out.