BELGRADE -- Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković says that he is optimistic regarding the report of the Hague Tribunal’s chief prosecutor.
Source: Beta
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The prime minister said that he expected the EU to approve the interim trade agreement after hearing Serge Brammertz’s report, adding that this might happen at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers.
In the meantime, Serbia will undertake diplomatic activities in order to secure the support of every EU member state for the ratification of the interim agreement, he said
"I expect EU policy towards Serbia to ease up after the firm confirmation that Serbia is fulfilling its obligations to the Hague Tribunal,” Cvetković said, adding that a significant number of countries had shown appreciation for Serbia’s cooperation with the Tribunal and its respect for international law.
The prime minister said that the new government was united in its determination to cooperate with the Hague, adding that certain members of the coalition had called on the remaining fugitives to surrender to the Tribunal voluntarily.
He confirmed that the Interior Ministry had not been involved in the arrest of Radovan Karadžić, stressing that Serbian security services had done a good job in arresting the former Bosnian Serb leader.
Cvetković said that the Belgrade protests sparked by the arrest of Karadžić did not pose a threat to either political stability in the country or to the safety of its citizens.
The prime minister said that Serbia would ask the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to declare its position on the legitimacy of the recognition of Kosovo’s independence at the UN General Assembly in September.
"Our argument will be that only a small number of countries have recognized Kosovo’s independence, and that there are other countries interested in hearing the ICJ’s position on the issue,” he explained.
Commenting on the statement from French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner that Serbia should give up on its plan to seek the ICJ’s view on the matter, Cvetković said that Serbia would take into consideration the views and statements of all international officials, but that Serbia had the right to consult the ICJ, because the request, in itself, could not harm anyone.
The prime minister added that Serbia could expect to gain EU candidate status by late 2008, or early 2009.
"Apart from the interim agreement and receiving EU candidate status, our third goal is to get Serbia on to the so-called white Schengen list, which will mean opening the doors of EU countries to Serbian citizens,” he explained.
Cvetković added that certain technical issues, such as the issuance of new passports, still needed to be resolved before Serbia acceded to the white Schengen list.
"How fast Serbia moves towards the EU will depend on the efficiency of parliament,” said the prime minister, adding that he was surprised by the behavior of the opposition parties, who were showing “a great lack of responsibility, when certain decisions need to be taken—decisions that are in the vital interests of Serbian citizens.”
He said that once parliament finally started working, the opposition would recognize its position and give up on its conduct thus far.
It seems that you got us again.
It actually makes sense.
Who would write anything like that about the “peace loving Serbia” apart from Albanians?
Who would judge all the Milosevic’s, Karadzic’s, Mladics, Arkans,,.....,, apart from us (the silly Albanians)?
It is really silly of us trying to pretend to be Germans, British, Australians, .... Dutch etc. when we know that you will “catch us on the act” when you clear,ly know that we are Albanians.
Also it is silly for any other nationalities that disagree with Serbia to put comments under their own nation flag, they should use Albanian nicknames.
(blero, 28 July 2008 14:50)
you don´t really believe that this naive comment ( by the way not really worth to be commented anyway ) is written by a german, do you?
in the best case it´s an Albanian who got the german citizenship.
a german writer wouldn´t write in that tune, sorry, but no matter how hard you try, my dear albanian friend, in most cases you are simply not smart enough to deceive the others here...
but it was a nice try, anyway.
:)
as for the accession to the EU:
it is in the interest of the union to get Serbia in the EU. Serbia doesn´t need the EU, but the EU does indeed need Serbia inside their frontiers.
but as a matter of fact, these simple thruths are still to high up in the sky for some of our entertainers here...
last but not least: EVEN IF it happened in 2030, ...Serbia has time! ;)
(Jovan, 27 July 2008 12:19)
You German citizen, I would highly recommend you following your Merkel and see what is she doing to benefit your own german problems of high unemployment, etc... The Serbs will get where they want to get sooner than your german mind would think. Do your self a favor and follow your own politics.
(American_In_Serbia, 27 July 2008 01:27)
So the MUP was "not involved in the arrest" of Karadzic ? What is the use of a ministry in charge of the police then ? All those lies just to protect the minister who was very anti Hague before being elected...
This government is a caricature.
(Ron, 27 July 2008 00:11)
I agree with "a german citizen" in that Serbs, no matter how urgent they think that EU membership is- Serbia will not receive EU membership for another 10-15 years. And "candidate status" is only a carrot that Brussels can pull away at anytime. The Irish have really helped the Serbs- my hats off to them- by vetoing the Lisbon Agreement. So what exactly is it that Tadic and Company don't understand- there will be no EU for Serbia for many years, so why are they trying to fool the Serbs??? And guess what- the Serbs, if they use their heads and collective abilities, can do much better than be European vassals. Especially if they look into other "options" such as the SCO (Shanghai Cooperative Organization). Perhaps the SCO alternative could give Brussels something to worry about- and to treat the Serbs with more respect!
(Rick, 26 July 2008 23:13)
I am sorry fellow Serbs, but there is no EU for you. Serbia is going no where right now. Don't fOOl yourselves. Serbia needs to get Mladic, drop ICJ and recognize Kosovo in order to get a membership candidate. I don't know if you Serbs knwo but SAA has not been ratified yet, an agreement that excludes Kosovo.
I'm not sure but around 2021 you might get into EU.
(A german citizen, 26 July 2008 17:27)
It seems that you got us again.
It actually makes sense.
Who would write anything like that about the “peace loving Serbia” apart from Albanians?
Who would judge all the Milosevic’s, Karadzic’s, Mladics, Arkans,,.....,, apart from us (the silly Albanians)?
It is really silly of us trying to pretend to be Germans, British, Australians, .... Dutch etc. when we know that you will “catch us on the act” when you clear,ly know that we are Albanians.
Also it is silly for any other nationalities that disagree with Serbia to put comments under their own nation flag, they should use Albanian nicknames.
(blero, 28 July 2008 14:50)
I am sorry fellow Serbs, but there is no EU for you. Serbia is going no where right now. Don't fOOl yourselves. Serbia needs to get Mladic, drop ICJ and recognize Kosovo in order to get a membership candidate. I don't know if you Serbs knwo but SAA has not been ratified yet, an agreement that excludes Kosovo.
I'm not sure but around 2021 you might get into EU.
(A german citizen, 26 July 2008 17:27)
you don´t really believe that this naive comment ( by the way not really worth to be commented anyway ) is written by a german, do you?
in the best case it´s an Albanian who got the german citizenship.
a german writer wouldn´t write in that tune, sorry, but no matter how hard you try, my dear albanian friend, in most cases you are simply not smart enough to deceive the others here...
but it was a nice try, anyway.
:)
as for the accession to the EU:
it is in the interest of the union to get Serbia in the EU. Serbia doesn´t need the EU, but the EU does indeed need Serbia inside their frontiers.
but as a matter of fact, these simple thruths are still to high up in the sky for some of our entertainers here...
last but not least: EVEN IF it happened in 2030, ...Serbia has time! ;)
(Jovan, 27 July 2008 12:19)
I agree with "a german citizen" in that Serbs, no matter how urgent they think that EU membership is- Serbia will not receive EU membership for another 10-15 years. And "candidate status" is only a carrot that Brussels can pull away at anytime. The Irish have really helped the Serbs- my hats off to them- by vetoing the Lisbon Agreement. So what exactly is it that Tadic and Company don't understand- there will be no EU for Serbia for many years, so why are they trying to fool the Serbs??? And guess what- the Serbs, if they use their heads and collective abilities, can do much better than be European vassals. Especially if they look into other "options" such as the SCO (Shanghai Cooperative Organization). Perhaps the SCO alternative could give Brussels something to worry about- and to treat the Serbs with more respect!
(Rick, 26 July 2008 23:13)
You German citizen, I would highly recommend you following your Merkel and see what is she doing to benefit your own german problems of high unemployment, etc... The Serbs will get where they want to get sooner than your german mind would think. Do your self a favor and follow your own politics.
(American_In_Serbia, 27 July 2008 01:27)
So the MUP was "not involved in the arrest" of Karadzic ? What is the use of a ministry in charge of the police then ? All those lies just to protect the minister who was very anti Hague before being elected...
This government is a caricature.
(Ron, 27 July 2008 00:11)
I am sorry fellow Serbs, but there is no EU for you. Serbia is going no where right now. Don't fOOl yourselves. Serbia needs to get Mladic, drop ICJ and recognize Kosovo in order to get a membership candidate. I don't know if you Serbs knwo but SAA has not been ratified yet, an agreement that excludes Kosovo.
I'm not sure but around 2021 you might get into EU.
(A german citizen, 26 July 2008 17:27)
It seems that you got us again.
It actually makes sense.
Who would write anything like that about the “peace loving Serbia” apart from Albanians?
Who would judge all the Milosevic’s, Karadzic’s, Mladics, Arkans,,.....,, apart from us (the silly Albanians)?
It is really silly of us trying to pretend to be Germans, British, Australians, .... Dutch etc. when we know that you will “catch us on the act” when you clear,ly know that we are Albanians.
Also it is silly for any other nationalities that disagree with Serbia to put comments under their own nation flag, they should use Albanian nicknames.
(blero, 28 July 2008 14:50)
you don´t really believe that this naive comment ( by the way not really worth to be commented anyway ) is written by a german, do you?
in the best case it´s an Albanian who got the german citizenship.
a german writer wouldn´t write in that tune, sorry, but no matter how hard you try, my dear albanian friend, in most cases you are simply not smart enough to deceive the others here...
but it was a nice try, anyway.
:)
as for the accession to the EU:
it is in the interest of the union to get Serbia in the EU. Serbia doesn´t need the EU, but the EU does indeed need Serbia inside their frontiers.
but as a matter of fact, these simple thruths are still to high up in the sky for some of our entertainers here...
last but not least: EVEN IF it happened in 2030, ...Serbia has time! ;)
(Jovan, 27 July 2008 12:19)
So the MUP was "not involved in the arrest" of Karadzic ? What is the use of a ministry in charge of the police then ? All those lies just to protect the minister who was very anti Hague before being elected...
This government is a caricature.
(Ron, 27 July 2008 00:11)
You German citizen, I would highly recommend you following your Merkel and see what is she doing to benefit your own german problems of high unemployment, etc... The Serbs will get where they want to get sooner than your german mind would think. Do your self a favor and follow your own politics.
(American_In_Serbia, 27 July 2008 01:27)
I agree with "a german citizen" in that Serbs, no matter how urgent they think that EU membership is- Serbia will not receive EU membership for another 10-15 years. And "candidate status" is only a carrot that Brussels can pull away at anytime. The Irish have really helped the Serbs- my hats off to them- by vetoing the Lisbon Agreement. So what exactly is it that Tadic and Company don't understand- there will be no EU for Serbia for many years, so why are they trying to fool the Serbs??? And guess what- the Serbs, if they use their heads and collective abilities, can do much better than be European vassals. Especially if they look into other "options" such as the SCO (Shanghai Cooperative Organization). Perhaps the SCO alternative could give Brussels something to worry about- and to treat the Serbs with more respect!
(Rick, 26 July 2008 23:13)