Prime minister: Serbia continues on EU path

BELGRADE Serbia "will continue to work on European integration and progress is expected in the dialogue with Pristina". This will pave the way for a date for starting accession talks with the EU, Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said on Monday. Prime minister: Serbia continues on EU path "Serbia wants to join the EU and reach a sustainable solution for Kosovo, which can be implemented on the ground," said the prime minister. After his meeting with European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule at the Serbian government building, Dacic told reporters he is pleased with what has been done in the field of European integration and that expectations have been exceeded, but that they are nevertheless high and the problems difficult. The prime minister added that Belgrade wants constant communication with the European Commission in order to avoid disagreements concerning the harmonization of Serbia's laws with the European. He refused to talk about the dialogue with Pristina, saying he had nothing new to add. "We are trying to find a sustainable solution for the Serb community in Kosovo. We will see whether we will get a positive response from the other side, which is our goal, not because we want the date but because we want to find a sustainable solution," said Dacic. Dacic noted Serbia has made major progress in other political criteria such as the fight against corruption and crime, judiciary reform, harmonization of Serbia's legislation with the EU's and the creation of a legislative framework compatible with the European. The prime minister said this week is very important for Serbia's political life, adding that a Bundestag delegation is also visiting Belgrade and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue will resume Wednesday in Brussels, while the UN will hold a session dedicated to Kosovo on Friday. "In mid April, the European Commission will begin the process of submitting a report on our progress towards Europe, and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton will also submit her report. All these decisions should be made by the beginning of June, so it is obvious that major political decisions will be made in the weeks ahead," said Dacic. (Tanjug) Tanjug

Prime minister: Serbia continues on EU path

"Serbia wants to join the EU and reach a sustainable solution for Kosovo, which can be implemented on the ground," said the prime minister.

After his meeting with European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule at the Serbian government building, Dačić told reporters he is pleased with what has been done in the field of European integration and that expectations have been exceeded, but that they are nevertheless high and the problems difficult.

The prime minister added that Belgrade wants constant communication with the European Commission in order to avoid disagreements concerning the harmonization of Serbia's laws with the European.

He refused to talk about the dialogue with Priština, saying he had nothing new to add.

"We are trying to find a sustainable solution for the Serb community in Kosovo. We will see whether we will get a positive response from the other side, which is our goal, not because we want the date but because we want to find a sustainable solution," said Dačić.

Dačić noted Serbia has made major progress in other political criteria such as the fight against corruption and crime, judiciary reform, harmonization of Serbia's legislation with the EU's and the creation of a legislative framework compatible with the European.

The prime minister said this week is very important for Serbia's political life, adding that a Bundestag delegation is also visiting Belgrade and the Belgrade-Priština dialogue will resume Wednesday in Brussels, while the UN will hold a session dedicated to Kosovo on Friday.

"In mid April, the European Commission will begin the process of submitting a report on our progress towards Europe, and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton will also submit her report. All these decisions should be made by the beginning of June, so it is obvious that major political decisions will be made in the weeks ahead," said Dačić.