Opening of EU chapters "depends solely on Kosovo talks"

The opening of first chapters in Serbia's membership negotiations with the EU depends solely on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
Source: Tanjug Friday, May 22, 2015 | 14:15

(Tanjug, file)

This is what Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday, asked when the expected opening of the first chapter in these talks.
He noted that he thought "Serbia did most of the work," but that this depended "only on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina."

"I listened to some politicians who said the opening of chapters depends on actions plan for chapters 23 and 24. I have to say that these people have no idea what they're talking about. This is about the community of Serb municipalities, energy and telecommunications, therefore, dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. There is no other issue and no other condition," said Vucic.

He added that "this is still being talked about and the European Union is appraising whether what has been done in relation to the judiciary, civil defense, municipalities in northern Kosovo and Metohija, as well as the return of Serbs to institutions, is sufficient."

"Everything new that would be done would be shifted to the weight that means the opening of the chapter," Vucic has been quoted as saying by the Tanjug agency.

According to him, "Serbia with its work deserves the opening of chapters," to then "stress that all doors in Europe are open for Serbia," and add that it is "one of the most respected countries in the region and beyond because of its economic reforms."

"European press writes that not only Greece but also some of our neighbors who are in the EU are in trouble, but they do not write that Serbia has a problem because they have a clear insight the Serbian public finances and the budget," said Vucic.

Asked when a Kosovo dialogue round dedicated to the future community of municipalities would be held in Brussels, Vucic said that he was "asked that this happens in the first week of June," but that he would be visiting the United States then, "and make an effort that visit the visit is as brief as possible."

The reason for this, he explained, is that "it seems to him that whenever he leaves there's a hailstorm or a flood."

"That's why I don't make plans for anything longer than two and a half days, even if they invited me New Zealand or Chile - two and a half years and I'm back in the country," said Vucic.