Brussels, 15/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Serbia's President Boris Tadic announced on Sunday 13 November that the European Council of 9 December, during which member states are due to give their stance on Belgrade's candidate status, is not crucial. “It is preferable to obtain candidate status in December 2012 and an opening date for talks rather than simply obtain candidate status in December”, Tadic told the Serbian TV channel Prva. “The EU is the best option before us and we can conduct reforms by following the example of European societies. However, if we give up the north of Kosovo, this does not mean that we shall move towards the EU any faster”, he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, responsible for European integration, said Serbia must first and foremost renew dialogue with Kosovo and apply agreements already sealed. “That is the condition of all conditions” for candidate status, he explained on Tuesday 15 November in the daily, Vercernje Novosti. “Resumption of dialogue is a strategic goal and in our greatest interest”, he added. He is to go to several European capitals together with the Serbian president and the foreign minister, Vuk Jeremic, in order to convince them that “candidate status is not a privilege but something that Serbia has deserved”.
On the sidelines of the General Affairs Council on 15 November, the French minister for European affairs, Jean Leonetti, underlined the “considerable effort” that Serbia has made. “When one sees the road already covered and the resolve of the Serbians, it is only logical to grant them candidate status. Of course, the development of later talks will depend on this dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina”, he explained, pointing out that “one cannot enter the EU if one has a dispute with the neighbours”.
According to Serbia's chief negotiator, Borislav Stefanovic, dialogue - suspended since September - may resume by the end of the week. He gave his assurance that he would be in daily contact with the EU mediator, Robert Cooper, to determine the agenda for talks. The Commission said it was in contact with the parties concerned, which are ready to take up debate, but did not confirm the date when talks would resume. (CG/transl.jl)