Deputy PM resigns in wake of EU decision

Source: Tanjug

BRUSSELS -- Serbia's deputy prime minister in charge of EU integration, Božidar Đelić, announced on Friday that he had submitted his resignation.

Božidar Đelić (Tanjug, file)

He said he had informed Serbian president Boris Tadic about the move.
Đelić stated that his resignation was "not a reflection of the defeat of state's policy but a personal decision", as he had announced earlier he would make such a move if Serbia did not become a candidate for EU membership.

Đelić did not wish to answer the question about "who could have done more for the country's EU bid", stressing only that Serbia should think about its future steps as the EU was "still in the best interests of Serbian citizens".

"We must continue our EU integration and protect our citizens in Kosovo," Đelić said in Brussels on Friday, in the wake of the EU announcement that it was postponing its decision on making Serbia a candidate for membership.