Serbia

Whether or not Serbia receives EU candidacy status will not influence the upcoming elections as Rasim Ljajić, minister for labour, stated. Elections are likely to be held in March 2011. The minister added that even if Serbia were given EU status, elections would not be held early while no new requirements were added to Serbia’s EU accession requirements while there are changes to the hitherto requirements. The regional representation of Kosovo, for instance, is among those conditions changed. Ljajić added that that he expects a positive outcome for December 9^th adding that Serbia is already in pre election mode.

Upon learning that Serbia will not yet be given EU candidacy status, prime minister Mirko Cvetković reminded foreign investors that Serbia is nevertheless an attractive state despite Serbia’s not receiving of EU candidacy status. Instead, she ought to be seen as a state on its way to the EU. The prime minister added that he does not believe that the EU’s decision will weigh heavy on Serbia’s economy while it will have negative impact on Serbia’s citizens. Cvetković added that he seeks to persuade Božidar Đelić to remain in office as he did not do his job badly. At any rate, Serbia will continue its policies of EU integration.

“Cvetković: Standard ne pade zbog EU”. B92. accessed December 10, 2011. www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija.php?yyyy=2011&mm=12&kk=10&nav_id=564558

“Ljajić: Raspisivanje izbora ne zavisi od odluke Saveta EU”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed December 7, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbjia/170353.html

Serbia and the EU

Serbia’s president Boris Tadić expressed moderate optimism concerning Serbia’s EU status at the outset of the past week. Following a conference hosted by the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), Tadić stated that Serbia ought to stay optimistic while not being non-realistic concerning the “certainty of Serbia’s membership status”. He further noted that should Serbia not be granted status, Belgrade should nevertheless work and look to a future as part of the EU as membership is in the interest of Serbia’s citizenry. The president highlighted that membership was especially pertinent for Serbia’s youth who without the prospect of EU membership are poised to look toward an insecure future. Tadić further criticized earlier statements made by officials who proposed that Serbia does not need the EU and instead can work to achieve alternative political solutions. The president added that Serbia, in addition of having to secure EU membership status, needs to ensure a functioning system while finding sustainable solutions regarding the conflicts that ensued in the 1990’s.

In a press release from December 6^th, Tadić stated that Serbia fulfilled all requirements, while Serbia deserved the status of EU membership accession. In a report issued by the Commission, Serbia received a positive assessment by which Belgrade’s cooperation with the ICTY as well as efforts at resolving Serbia-Priština problems were acknowledged. The president, however, reminded that Serbia does not yet know whether or not she will receive membership status or not.

Serbia, however, was not granted EU candidacy status on the 9^th of December. Instead, Serbia will learn in March 2012 if a new round of negotiations will lead to EU candidacy status. Boris Tadić congratulated Montenegro and Croatia on their membership status adding that he is not surprised that Serbia was not granted EU membership status. Serbia, he added, will continue to seek EU membership status nevertheless.

“EU Procena u februaru, status u martu, I dalje uslovno”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed December 9, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/170500.html

“Srbija ispunila uslove za kandidaturu”. Beta. accessed December 6, 2011. www.beta.rs/?tip=article&kategorija=vestidana&ida=2616024&id=&ime=

“Tadić: umereni optimista oko dobijanja statusa kandidata”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed December 3, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/170124.html

Serbia and KiM

Serbian president Boris Tadić called on Serbs resident in Kosovo to accept the agreement reached in Bonn, Germany, attained on the 3^rd of December. At the SPD led conference, an agreement regarding the administrative crossings between Kosovo and Serbia has been reached. Priština and Belgrade agreed to post administrative officials from Kosovo and Serbia while EULEX will administer the system. Tadić appealed to Serbs on the barricades as well as to their leaders to accept the plan. However, the president recalled that Serbia agreed to post Serb and Kosovar officials on the administrative crossings and not on the border between Kosovo and Serbia. Serbia, in other words, will not recognize – “nor will recognize Kosovo’s independence” in the near future. Tadić reminded citizens, however, that now is the time to differentiate between politicians and populists adding that real and sustainable solutions are necessary for the state. Furthermore, the current situation does not ask for nationalist and patriotic commitments, but for viable solutions behind which one is able to stand – “I can stand behind my solutions” – the president added.

Later on, Zubini Potok’s mayor Slaviša Ristić and KFOR commander Adolf Konrad agreed found an agreement by which barricades by Jarinje will be removed. According to the agreement, a checkpoint – controlled by KFOR officials and members of the Kosovar police force – will be set up were they plan on controlling traffic. This means that people will remove themselves from the barricades which points toward a normalizing situation in northern Kosovo.

Edita Tahiri stated that the joint solution reached regarding the administrative crossing between Serbia and Kosovo was the result of joint action between Priština and Belgrade. Tahiri stated that the joint solution was in line with EU concept while it agreed with Kosovo’s constitution adding that Serbia, with said agreement, acknowledged the border between Kosovo and Serbia. “Kosovar rules will preside on the side of Kosovo while Serbian rules will preside in Serbia”. EULEX, meanwhile, will be the guarantor of the agreements agreed upon will be implemented. Kosovo’s president Hašim Tači meanwhile stated that the agreement regarding the joint administration of the crossing will ease movement of goods and people while Serbia “de jure” acknowledged Kosovo’s borders with Serbia.

“’De jure’ priznanje Kosovoa”. B92. accessed November 7, 2011. www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2011&mm=12&dd=07&nav_id=563705

“Postignut dogovor za Jagnjenicu i Jarinje”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed December 5, 2011. www.emg.rs/vesti/srbija/170214.html

“Edita Tahiri: Sporazum sapečaćeni rezultati akcije na severu”. Ekonom East Media Group. accessed December 6, 2011. www.emportal.rs/vesti/srbija/170270.html

“Tema dana: Tadić Kosovski Srbi da private sporazum o prelazima”. Politika Online. accesed December 3, 2011. www.politika.rs/rubrike/tema-dana-/Tadic-Resenje-u-skladu-s-nacionalnim-interesima.lt.html

“Grenzkonflikt: Serbien bestaetigt Einigung mit dem Kosovo”. Die Zeit Online. accessed December 3, 2011. www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2011-12serbien-kosovo-einigung