"No tragedy if Serbia fails to become EU candidate"

The U.S. will continue to support Serbia’s democratic pathway and efforts to join the European Union, but as far as they are concerned the Kosovo issue is solved, Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović said after her visit recent visit to Washington.

"No tragedy if Serbia fails to become EU candidate"

The U.S. will continue to support Serbia’s democratic pathway and efforts to join the European Union, but as far as they are concerned the Kosovo issue is solved, Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović said after her visit recent visit to Washington.

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“However, the fact that a group of congressmen, led by Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia Chairman Dan Burton, will visit the region in the beginning of November is encouraging, which I believe will balance out the relations in the dialogue with Priština,“ she told the daily after the three-day visit to the U.S. where she met with some of the top congressmen.

Were you discouraged by the fact that the Kosovo issue is resolved for the U.S.?

Đukić-Dejanović: I heard the harsh truth. That’s not always pleasant but it’s useful because you know where you stand. You know the interlocutor’s position from the start and you can shape your own actions accordingly.

Yet, you told them Serbia would not recognize Kosovo’s independence. Have any of your interlocutors asked for the recognition?

Đukić-Dejanović: Nobody has asked us to recognize Kosovo’s independence but when you offer them arguments that five EU members have not recognized Kosovo either, then things become clearer. Specifically, my message in the talks was that Serbia had no intention to use anything other than diplomatic and political activities. I stated that our assessment was that we entered the dialogue very honestly and that Priština did not. The topic I started was the situation in northern Kosovo and in the Serb enclaves.

How do they comment on the Serbian barricades?

Đukić-Dejanović: There is an impression that they do not exactly have much information. It is a far away story to them but they do have a need to take into account the reality which is neither black nor white. They have never used the term ‘barricades’.

Was there a discussion about partition of Kosovo?

Đukić-Dejanović: There was no discussion about that. They have their position and I don’t believe that they will change it in the near future but I believe that it is good to talk about all proposals, Catalonian, Cyprian, the demarcation model and even the exchange of territory.

Is the U.S. willing to support Serbia’s EU accession?

Đukić-Dejanović: Based on the communication I had, the U.S. support is indisputable and they want to see Serbia in the EU.

How disappointing would it be for you if Serbia did not get the candidate status?

Đukić-Dejanović: I simply would not even believe in such a possibility. No - everything we have done on our European pathway cannot cause any harm, but when you do something you expect recognition of those who assess you. We did not do our job in vain and we will not give up on our European pathway.

It can be increasingly heard that it would not be the end of the world if we did not get the candidate status. Is this some kind of change in our policy?

Đukić-Dejanović: It is not a change. The EU is our goal and it should stay that way. It is true that Euro-optimism is slightly declining because we have come much closer to the EU than it has to us. It is good for us that we are going faster down that road but I agree with those who claim that it would not be a tragedy if the candidate status does not happen.

Maybe that is why the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO) has been calling your party "false Europeans" more often?

Đukić-Dejanović: Ivica Dačić is a declared European for many reasons and my personal engagement in parliament speaks a lot of our commitment.

So, you are not false Europeans?

Đukić-Dejanović: Those who criticize us today had a too big of a wish to participate in the government with us, and if we had not entered the government they would not have been a part of the government. Everything was all right for them for three and a half years but now when the elections are getting closer they point out our political descent. Unlike them we are saying even now that if they do not like it, they can leave the government. We do not want to use war hatchets but we are not ashamed of our past. Openness regarding the issue that is very painful to the people is very European to us.

The ruling coalition seems like an out of tune orchestra.

Đukić-Dejanović: Of course we have some difficulties but we overcome problems with dialogue. That is why I said at one point that I would not be surprised if the ruling coalition assessed that the elections could be held earlier.

Everybody immediately denied it.

Đukić-Dejanović: That is right but we quickly sat down and agreed on some issues. We voted in the law on restitution and the law on rehabilitation, which has been a stumbling stone, will soon come on the agenda.

Could barricades backfire on Serbs again?

Đukić-Dejanović: It is the best to use dialogue but people choose ways that are acceptable to them. The question is how long these barricades should last. If they lead to a better position of our citizens, let all of us do it then but if they are not giving results anymore then a new method needs to be found. When times are bad it is the best to overcome them with as less damage as possible.