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Belgrade, March 3, 2010 KOSOVO & METOHIJAJEREMIC: SERBIA WILL DISCUSS PROBLEMS ONLY WITH EU AND UN BELGRADE, March 3 (Tanjug) - Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said, responding to France's demand to find a compromise solution for specific problems in Kosovo, that the Serbian government is willing to negotiate the situation in the field with EULEX and UN representatives, as defined in the six-point plan by the UN Security Council, while it will only discuss the future status of the province with Pristina. "As far as the situation in the field goes, there are mechanisms for talks which were defined in the UN SC six-point plan, which envisages the participation of EULEX, the UN and Serbia. These talks have yielded good results when it comes to the work of the police, and we are willing to continue them on other issues as well," Jeremic said for daily Blic. Jeremic assessed that negotiations on the status of Kosovo will have to start when the ICJ in The Hague gives its opinion and after the vote in the UN General Assembly. "Pristina is not interested in finding a compromise solution for the future status of Kosovo. Moreover, they responded to the Serbian president's offer of compromise in the SC with threats that it will cause new conflicts. I don't expect them to be ready to negotiate before ICJ gives its opinion. I think that afterwards they will have no choice," he said. Commenting on the refusal of Kosovo authorities to appear at conferences represented by UN officials or UNMIK Kosovo, Jeremic stressed that Pristina's voice will continue to be heard at regional gatherings only under the terms defined by UN Resol 1244. KOUCHNER: BELGRADE AND PRISTINA SHOULD ESTABLISH DIALOGUE BELGRADE, March 2 (Tanjug) - French Foreign Minister Bernad Kouchner stated in Gracanica that it is necessary for Belgrade and Pristina to establish a dialogue.Discussing the European future of Kosovo, he pointed out that the province should first address the problems it has with Serbia. We do not ask from Serbia to recognize Kosovo, but as long as the relations between Serbia and Kosovo remain like this, it will be difficult for both, Kouchner underscored and recommended that a dialogue should be launched between Belgrade and Pristina. When asked about the perspective of Serbia and Kosovo's EU accession, Kouchner responded that Serbia and Kosovo should first regulate their own relation. As for Kosovo's EU future, Kouchner said that it should resolve its problems with Serbia, adding that the EU admission should be approved by 27 countries. It is not on me to decide, everyone should make decisions for themselves. A dialogue should be established and they should both know that they have EU perspective, Kouchner said. KOUCHNER REFUSED TO COMMENT ON THE "YELLOW HOUSE" CASE GRACANICA, March 2 (Tanjug) - France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner refused to comment on the "yellow house" case by advising the Voice of America reporter who asked about it to seek medical help. The reporter asked Kouchner to comment on the fact that the families of Serbs who were kidnapped and killed have accused him of taking part in human organ trade. Kouchner laughed at that and asked the reporter if he was ill, advising him not to believe everything people say. When asked if he knows about the existence of the so called "yellow house," where the organs of kidnapped Serbs were allegedly harvested, Kouchner told the reporter that he should go get a checkup, adding that the people who say such things are low-lives and murderers, according to Radio KIM. The Office of the War Crimes Prosecutor has been investigating allegations of human organ trade in Kosovo and northern Albania, where the yellow house is and where the organs from kidnapped Serbs and other ethnic non-Albanians were allegedly harvested. KOUCHNER: PROGRESS MADE IN GRACANICA GRACANICA, March 2 (Tanjug) - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in Gracanica that progress is visible in that community, but that much remains to be done to improve the standard of living. He also urged the Kosovo government to prevent discrimination Kosovo Serbs must have equal status as other communities, he said. After meeting President of the Gracanica Municipality Stojanovic, Kouchner said France is ready to invest in that new municipality. As regards real investments, a better political situation is necessary, he said. What Europe can do is to make getting visas easier, as it is not right that the people who live in Kosovo have difficulties in getting visas, he said. Even that, however, is hard to achieve, he said. According to Kouchner, progress is visible, but much remains to be done. He noted that the last time he visited Gracanica, people told him they had difficulties in travelling and getting around, but that things have now improved. He expressed great affection for Gracanica, which he visited a dozen times in the past. MIREL ON NEIGHBOURLY RELATIONS WITH KOSOVO BELGRADE, Feb 2 (Tanjug) - Director for Western Balkans in EC's Directorate General for Enlargement Mirel said that the EU expects from Serbia to develop neighbourly relations with Kosovo, and reminded that such a remark was made in last October's report on progress Serbia made towards the EU. I can only repeat what we said in our report from October last year which spoke about the progress of cooperation, and in which we noted that neighbourly relations is what expected progress actually means, Mirel told journalists in the Palace of Serbia.What we underlined in particular in that report, and what we will repeat now, is that customs check points in Kosovo should be approved of, Mirel added. Deputy Prime Minister Djelic reminded that Serbia's state policy is well known - Serbia will never recognize, either directly or indirectly, the independence of Kosovo. "Serbia wants to take a very active part in all regional integration processes, but it cannot accept the possibility that regional integrations represent grounds for the affirmation of some sovereignty it will never recognize," Djelic pointed out."By finding a way to conclude an operational arrangement with EULEX and by finding solutions in the field of some other issues, Serbia has proved its commitment to integrations and demonstrated its wish for pragmatic solutions wherever such solutions are possible," Djelic said. He pointed out that in the last couple of weeks and months, it has become evident that Serbia's European partners, including the ones that have decided to recognize Kosovo's independence, are all looking for answers. "It is obvious that the efforts are aimed at the making of some kind of compromise, which is exactly what Serbia wants - to achieve historic compromise over Kosovo and Metohija. We can be free to say that European integrations and the desire of Europe to see all the West Balkan citizens as part of the EU, is true encouragement for the making of such a compromise," he added.Djelic and Mirel took part today in the first meeting of the committee for the implementation of the ITA. KOSOVO SERVES PRIMARILY AS TRANSIT AREA FOR AFGAN DRUGS PRISTINA, March 2 (Tanjug) - Kosovo is not a significant narcotics producer in the region and it mostly serves as a transit area for drugs coming from Afganistan, says the 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) by the U.S. SDepartment. Kosovo faces a number of challenges in that field, says the report, adding that Kosovo's "borders are porous and there is corruption among the Kosovo Border Police and Customs officers." The report cites figures on the quantities of confiscated drugs in Kosovo, as well as on the number of arrests, but it also states that the police resources for combating drug trade are limited and the issue is not a priority for the government. "The effectiveness of EULEX advisors assigned to the narcotics department has not yet been reflected in increased arrests and prosecutions," says the report. The amount of narcotics entering from Afganistan, Bulgaria and Macedonia has been reduced, but the amount entering from Albania and Montenegro has been growing. SERBIA – EU JEREMIC: SERBIA DOES NOT CHOOSE BETWEEN EU AND KOSOVO BUDAPEST, March 3 (Tanjug) - Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said, during his visit to Budapest, that tying Serbia's European perspective to the problem of Kosovo would be "a tragic mistake." Anyone who thinks that Serbia, in case it had to choose between the EU and Kosovo, would choose the EU is wrong, Jeremic told a press conference after a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Balazs, the Hungarian Agency MTI has reported. Balazs pointed out that there is no need to impose such an impossible choice on Serbia, and added that Belgrade has done a lot on its Euro pathway. He said that Budapest relies on Serbia in efforts for the stabilization of the Western Balkans which is the priority of Hungary's foreign policy, MTI quoted. Hungary thinks that its strategic mission is to help the stabilization of the entire Western Balkans, and this cannot be done without Serbia, the Hungarian foreign minister stressed.He underscored that Serbia plays a key role in the region, and added that he is always ready to help neighboring countries to resolve their problems. During his visit to Budapest, Jeremic will also meet with Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom. DJELIC: SERBIA SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTS INTERIM TRADE AGREEMENT BELGRADE, March 2 (Tanjug) - The members of the Committee for the Implemetation of the ITA with the EU concluded that Serbia has been successfully implementing the Agreement for 14 months, which is a great success for the Serbian government and its citizens, Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Bozidar Djelic stated after the first Committee meeting. "Today, Serbia has officially entered a partnership relation with the EU. For the first time we had a Committee in which the EU's and Serbia's interests are intertwined," Djelic said. As of today, the interests of the Serbian manufacturers will be protected in the EU market in the same way that the European manufacturers are protected in Serbia, he pointed out. Djelic said that the trade with the EU was discussed at the meeting, as well as the fulfillment of quotas for the export of goods from Serbia, adding that 80 percent of Serbia's export goes to the EU market, and that more than 75 percent of the goods in the Serbian market comes from the EU. Nevertheless, there was a 25 percent decline in the volume of trade with the EU, but the crisis did not affect the agriculture sector, in which Serbia achieved a surplus, Djelic underscored. He said that Serbia is the only country of the Central and Southeast Europe to achieve a surplus in agriculture in the trade with the EU, which was twice as large as the one in 2008. It was also stated at the meeting that the quota for the export of the white beef from Serbia to the EU was not fulfilled, as only 12 percent of the total amount allowed was exported. Similarly, only 8 percent of the quota for the export of wine was used, and fish was also exported below the allowed quota. Djelic stressed that the export quota of 180,000 tons was fulfilled only when it comes to sugar, adding that he announced to the European Commission Serbia's initiative to raise this quota. MIREL: BETTER EXPORT WITH HELP OF INTERIM TRADE AGREEMENT BELGRADE, March 2 (Tanjug) -Director for Western Balkans in European Commission's Directorate General for Enlargement Pierre Mirel evaluated that Serbia has achieved good results in application of the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU and added that this will help the country increase its export and attract foreign investors. I have praised Serbia with pleasure for uninterrupted and good work on application of the agreement. We now expect a good implementation of the agreement by both sides, and we hope that the trade elements will contribute not only to an increase of export, but also to an increase of investments, Mirel told news reporters after the first session of the ITA Committee. According to him, the bilateral application of the trade measures will give more security to foreign investors and provide foreseeable circumstances, especially when it comes to customs prices. Mirel pointed out that the export of agricultural products of Serbia has great perspective if the manufacture in the country increases. We are witnesses that in mid-nineties such measures contributed to the development of Central Europe, and we sincerely hope that in Serbia, too, a greater number of people will be employed," Mirrel assessed. WORDSWORTH: SERBIA WILL JOIN EU IN SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS BELGRADE, March 3 (Tanjug) - British Ambassador to Belgrade Stephen Wordsworth said that Serbia will join the EU in seven or eight years, if it focuses all of its efforts on European integration and removes all the obstacles in its path. Asked if Serbia will get EU member candidate status this year, Wordsworth responded that it is hard to say, but that 2011 is much more likely. Great Britain was ready to start the ratification of the SAA in December 2009, but not all 27 EU member countries share that position. The ratification of SAA will most likely start in June, as long as Serbia maintains a good level of cooperation with The Hague Tribunal, he said for daily Vecernje novosti. Asked if Serbia will have to recognize Kosovo in order to join NATO, Wordsworth said that nobody is asking Serbia to recognize Kosovo. Joining NATO is not a precondition for joining the EU - there are even some EU members countries which are not in NATO, he explained. Wordsworth considers Serbia's attempts to open negotiations on the status of Kosovo completely unrealistic. Talks between Belgrade and Pristina are necessary - not on Kosovo's status but rather on how to resolve numerous issues and provide a better life for Kosovo citizens. This does not necessarily entail a formal recognition of Kosovo, he pointed out. STEFANI: SERBIA HAS TO JOIN EU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BELGRADE, March 2 (Tanjug) - Chairman of the Italian Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Stefano Stefani said in Belgrade that Serbia has to join the EU as soon as possible, and that it enjoys Rome's support on that path. After the meeting with his Serbian counterpart Dragoljub Micunovic, Stefani said that he, his committee and all of Italy are convinced that Serbia is Europe. Stefani noted that Italy supports and hopes for Serbia's fast EU integration, adding that he feels the other EU countries also wish for Serbia to become a member of the organization. Micunovic said that they discussed how well Serbia is prepared for European integration, current situation in the region and various forms of cooperation. Stefani remarked that the meeting helped him understand the situation in Serbia even better.The situation is characterized by the first and foremost issue, which is Kosovo, said Stefani, adding that they also mentioned other areas where Serbia has an interest and responsibility, Bosnia-Herzegovina being one of them. US STRONGLY BACKS SERBIA'S EUROPEAN INTEGRATION BELGRADE, March 2 (Tanjug) - The United States strongly backs the process of Serbia's EU integration, but the globally integrated future of that country also implies its admission into other international institutions, such as the WTO, US Ambassador to Serbia Mary Warlick said. Addressing the companies that are members of the US Chamber of Commerce in Serbia, Warlick underlined that the US backs both Serbia's integration into international institutions, such as the WTO, and its broader economic cooperation with neighbours. She pointed out the readiness of the US Embassy to offer advisory assistance to Serbia for its fastest possible admission into the WTO, which, as reminded, enables a smooth trade on the world market and provides safe mechanisms for the resolution of trade-related issues. Warlick underscored that WTO membership would make Serbia more attractive for direct foreign investments, noting that US companies, which employ about 8,000 people, have invested approximately USD 1.5 mil in Serbia so far. The US ambassador expressed her belief that as soon as the economic situation in the US improves, the interest which certain companies have shown for Serbia will be realised in concrete investments. SERBIA EUROPEAN COMMISSION EVACUATED THIRD DAY IN ROW BELGRADE, March 3 (Tanjug) - The office of the European Commission (EC) Delegation in Vladimir Popovic Street in Belgrade was evacuated for the third day in a row due to a bomb tip-off, Tanjug was told in the press office of the Serbian MUP. The investigation is underway based on the tip-off that was received around 12 a.m. in the building that also houses the Embassy of Australia and several other companies, which is now being searched by special police units.The previous two tip-offs were determined to be false. DACIC: SUCCESSFUL COOPERATION OF NORWEGIAN & SERBIAN POLICE OSLO, March 2 (Tanjug) - Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said after meeting Norwegian Justice Minister Knut Storberget that the Norwegian government has proposed several joint projects for the reform of the Serbian police. An agreement on police cooperation is expected to be signed this year, after a return visit of Norwegian justice and interior ministers, Dacic said. Storberget also proposed the signing of an agreement on the transfer of convicts. That agreement would enable Serbia's citizens sentenced in Norway and in prison there to serve their sentences in Serbia, Dacic said. Cooperation between the Norwegian and Serbian police has been very successful over the past ten years, Dacic said. The Norwegian government has also donated several million euros for the activities and reform of the Serbian police over the years, he said. Storberget pointed to the good cooperation between the two ministries. Storberget also emphasized that Norway wants to foster international cooperation as the best way for fighting organized crime. CIPLIC & VOLLEBAEK ON OPENING OF FACULTIES IN SOUTHERN SERBIA BELGRADE, March 2 (Tanjug) - Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek and Serbia's Minister for Human and Minority Rights Svetozar Ciplic discussed the study of possibility of opening institutions of higher education in Bujanovac and Presevo. The study of possibility was made by the Serbian government's Coordination Body for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja, the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights has released in a statement.Vollebeak was interested in the registration of members of Albanian national minority on the electoral roll, and for the authorizations of national councils in the field of education. Ciplic introduced the high commissioner with the authorizations of national councils, which are defined by the Law on Protection of Rights and Freedoms of National Minorities, and told to him how many members of the minorities have been registered on the electoral roll so far.Ciplic thanked the commissioner for the cooperation and support in the process of drafting and passing the law, and added that he hopes for a further cooperation. SERBIA – REGION STEFANOVIC: SLOVENIA INFORMED OF SERBIA'S STAND BELGRADE, March 2 (Tanjug) - The Slovenian Foreign Ministry has been informed of Serbia's stand that Kosovo's participation in regional initiatives is acceptable only if representatives of its interim institutions attend them if they are referred to as UNMIK Kosovo, Political Director in the Foreign Ministry Borko Stefanovic said in a statement. Serbia has nothing against Kosovo-Metohija's participation in regional initiatives, but only under the name UNMIK Kosovo, as Serbia thus protects its national interests while at the same time contributing to regional stability and to removing obstacles to its integration in the EU, he said. The Slovenian Foreign Ministry has been informed of Serbia's stand in the expectation of the regional conference EU - Western Balkans scheduled for the end of this month in Brdo pri Kranju, he said. Representatives of Kosovo interim institutions might be invited to attend that conference, he said.There have been contacts with the Slovenian FM and they have been informed of Serbia's stand based on the decisions of its government, he said. Kosovo can attend the conference only under the name UNMIK Kosovo and its representative must be accompanied by a representative of UNMIK, who must be the first to take the floor. Serbia's goal is not to have Kosovo excommunicated, but Kosovo cannot have the status of a sovereign state because it is not, he said. Serbia's stand is constructive and enables the interim institutions to have their voice heard, he said, adding that this stand will not change. SEJDIU WILL GO TO LJUBLJANA ONLY AS HEAD OF STATE PRISTINA, March 2 (Tanjug) - Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu said he will represent Kosovo at regional meetings of heads of state only if he enjoys the same status as all other representatives, and underlined that only Kosovo's legitimate representatives, and no one else, are entitled to talk on the behalf of Kosovo. A statement released by Sejdiu's cabinet in Pristina reads that the Kosovo president has still not received an official invitation for the forthcoming international conference on West Balkans which is scheduled to take place in Brdo near Kranj, Slovenia, on March 20. Charge de Affairs of the Slovenian Embassy Jadranka Sturm Kocjan said for Danas that the representatives of both UNMIK and the authority in Pristina will be invited, and pointed out that the papers that will be distributed on the occasion will clearly say that Kosovo will be referred to "UNMIK/Kosovo." As far as the issue of possible invitation to UNMIK is concerned, the Kosovo president holds that the question should be posed to the ones that will organize the conference and that no one can speak on the behalf of Kosovo but its legitimate representatives, the statement says. The media reported that Sejdiu and Prime Minister Taci have already received invitations to take part and that it is expected they will be represented under the name of UNMIK/Kosovo. SERBIA – ECONOMY SERBIAN STATE AND BUSINESS DELEGATION VISITS ALGERIA ALGERIA, March 3 (Tanjug) - A Serbian state and business delegation, comprised of representatives of around 60 top Serbian companies, has arrived in Algeria where it will discuss furthering economic cooperation between the two countries during a three-day working visit. Deputy Prime Minister Mladjan Dinkic, who is heading the Serbian delegation, met with Algerian Minister of Water Resources Abdelmalek Selal, who is also the co-chairman of the joint committee for economic cooperation with Serbia. The meeting was also attended by the general managers of the biggest Algerian and Serbian watermanagement companies.The intent to improve economic cooperation between Serbia and Algeria was expressed at the meeting, as well as the goal to bring the cooperation back to 1980s levels, when Algeria, a non-aligned country, was one of former Yugoslavia's major economic partners. Since Algeria, as one of the richest countries in Northern Africa, is planning to start an investment cycle worth USD 150 billion in the next four years, the visit is a great opportunity for Serbian companies to get involved in Algerian businesses. |