REPUBLIC OF SERBIA - MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

 SEJDIU & THACI: ISLAMIC CONFERENCE RESOLUTION VERY IMPORTANT SERBIA – FRANCE

TADIC HOPES FOR NEW "GOLDEN ERA" IN RELATIONS WITH PARIS

PARIS, May 27 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Tadic has said, ahead of his two-day visit to France, that he wants the two countries to establish a strategic partnership that would resemble the relations from the "golden era," the period before World War One. My priority is that Serbia becomes a country with a true legal system, the Serbian president told the French daily Figaro. National interests demand from us to carry out reforms to that effect, and once these reforms have been realized, our integration into the European Union will take its natural course, Tadic pointed out. As for the sensitive issue of Kosovo, Figaro noted that Tadic had succeeded in shifting the issue from the interior onto the legal terrain, since Serbia had managed to present the issue of unilateral proclamation of Kosovo independence before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), whose ruling on the matter is expected next year. Serbia shall never recognize the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence, Tadic stressed. We cannot accept that the Albanians get everything and that the Serbs lose everything; this is contrary to any possible kind of compromise, the Serbian president underlined.

TADIC ARRIVES ON VISIT TO FRANCE

BELGRADE, May 27 (Tanjug) - President Boris Tadic arrived on a two-day working visit to France to have talks with French President Nicoals Sarkozy. During his stay, Tadic will hold a lecture at the Institute of International Relations and unveil a memorial plaque for WW I Serb combatants. Tadic will unveil a memorial plaque at Les Invalides in the memory of the historical friendship between Serbia and France. “Fidelity for fidelity; in the memory of the Serbian army, France as a historical ally in the Big War and the Serb soldiers who died for France in a joint battle against Nazi occupying forces”, it is written on the memorial plaque which glorifies the alliance between the French and Serbian people in two World Wars. Commenting on the event, the French daily Figaro reported that the gesture should remind of the long history of French-Serbian friendship, which had been somewhat disrupted with NATO’s bombing ten years ago. The Serbian delegation, which also comprises Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, will present Serbia’s endeavors for integration into Europe, especially in the field of economy, and prospects for investments by French companies in Serbia. Along with the estimations that a lot more can de done in the field of cooperation, announcements have already been made in Paris on the arrival of a big delegation of French businessmen on June 10-11, which will investigate the possibilities for a further enhancement of economic relations, particularly in the field of infrastructure and transportation.

TADIC GOES TO ROLAND GARROS

PARIS, May 27 (Tanjug) - Before his afternoon talks with French President Nicholas Sarkozy at Palais de l’ Elysées (French presidential palace), the Serbian president will visit Roland Garros, where the French Open tennis tournament is underway right now. Tadic will meet with Serbia’s best tennis players that are taking part in this event, which is one of the four grand slam tournaments. Tadic is also due to confer with Head of the French Tennis Federation Jean Gachassin, who, in the honour of the Serbian president and our tennis players, proclaimed on Thursday the day of Serbian tennis at Roland Garros. At the end of the first day of his visit to France, a ceremony is supposed to be organized at the Arc de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph) where an eternal fire will be lit in the honour of the combats that were killed in World War One and Two.

SERBIAN EDUCATION MINISTER ON FRANCOPHONE ORGANIZATION

PARIS, May 26 (Tanjug) - Education Minister Zarko Obradovic met in Paris, during official visit to France, with the director of the International Francophone Organization to discuss possibilities that at the next summit of francophony Serbia is elected as an associate member of this organization, the Education Ministry announced. By joining this organization, Serbia, which currently holds observer status in this organization rallying 56 countries, could participate in projects which this organization is conducting in the education sphere, Obradovic stated. He set out that France and Serbia have traditionally good and long relations in the education and culture spheres which "is also demonstrated by the agreement on promoting activities in teaching the French language in schools in Serbia." This agreement was signed by the Education Ministry and France’s ambassador to Serbia last December.

SERBIA

TADIC: SERBIA WILL HAVE A PROFESSIONAL ARMY BY 2011

CUPRIJA, May 26 (Tanjug) - President Tadic backed the continuation of the reform process and the professionalization of the Serbian Army and expressed belief that Serbia would have professional armed forces by 2011. "I expect that in 2010 and in early 2011, with some extension due to the global economic crisis that is also affecting Serbia, we will most certainly complete the process of professionalisation" of the military, Tadic said at the end of an excercise by Miltiary Academy graduates at the Pasuljanske Livade training ground. Tadic underscored that this will prove once again that the Army will be modern and professional and that this point in the reforms will mark a totally new stage. Tadic expressed hope that the Cepotin military base, near Bujanovac, will soon be opened, as it will have a strategic importance. He said that, in this sense, Serbia will prove its security potentials just like it is demonstrating this in the economic and political spheres in the region of Southeast Europe.

MINISTER UGLJANIN: MINISTRY OF RELIGION REACED ADEQUATELY

NOVI PAZAR, May 26 (Tanjug) - Serbian Ministry of Religion reacted adequately to the claims of Reis-ul-Ulema of the Islamic community in Bosnia-Herzegovina Mustafa Ceric on violations of human rights of Muslims and Bosniaks in Serbia, made during his recent visit to the Islamic community in Sandzak, Minister without portfolio Sulejman Ugljanin said. The Ministry of Religion was tolerant and its reaction was adequate, and it should have kept a firm stand, Ugljanin told. The ministry issued last week two statements condemning insulting statements by Ceric and declaring him unwelcome. The next day, the ministry softened its stand and said that it was inaccurately and maliciously misinterpreted by the media. Ugljanin, who is in charge of regional development of underdeveloped municipalities, believes that the ministry must clearly state which of the two Islamic communities is its partner - the Meshihat of the Islamic Community in Serbia or the Riyasset of the Serbian Islamic Community. The ministry is wrong to finance an islamic community which has a seat in another country, he said. If Ceric had proof of violations of rights of Muslims in Serbia, he should have contacted Reis-ul-Ulema of the Riyaset of the Islamic Community Adem Zilkic, Ugljanin said.

MINISTER OF RELIGION CONFERS WITH RIYASSET DELEGATION

BELGRADE, May 26 (Tanjug) - Minister of Religion Bogoljub Sijakovic conferred with a delegation of the Riyasset of the Serbian Islamic Community on problems its members are facing due to divisions within the Islamic community, which is also harmful to the state, the ministry said in a release. The delegation comprised Reis ul Ulema Adem Zilkic, Mufti Muhamed Jusufspahic and Riyasset Secretary General Eldin Asceric.

MAAS AWARDED GERMAN ACADEMIC EXCHANGE SERVICE SCHOLARSHIPS

BELGRADE, May 26 (Beta) - The "Special Program Serbia" of the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD was presented at the Faculty of Political Sciences and this year’s DAAD scholarships were awarded. German Ambassador to Belgrade Wolfram Maas awarded the scholarships. He also held a lecture entitled Sixty Years of the Federal Republic of Germany Sixty Years of a Constitution as part of the celebration of 60 years of the Federal Republic of Germany. Sixty years since the adoption of the constitution I am optimistic that we are on the right road and that we will see many more decades, Maas said, pointing out that 2009, also the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, was an important year for Germany. As part of the DAAD program for the school year 2009/2010, some 109 scholarships were awarded in Serbia, ranging from a onemonth course in Germany to PhD scholarships lasting several years. DAAD has allocated three million euros for measures in Serbia for the period 20092013, with a focus on stays in Germany, it was announced. The German ambassador also said that his country, as a partner in the European Union, was doing everything in its power to open the door to the EU to Serbia, but added that Serbia must take the road itself. The leadership has to set a goal and maintain the course, Maas said.

SERBIA – EU

TADIC: EU STRATEGIC GOAL, PEACEFUL POLICY COMMITMENT

CUPRIJA, May 26 (Beta) - President Tadic said that membership in the EU was Serbia’s strategic goal, and that the country was committed to solving problems peacefully and through diplomatic means. Serbia’s policy is peaceful and Serbia is an unavoidable factor of South East European stability. The Europe and the world can count on Serbia for that, Tadic said at Pasuljanske Livade, near Cuprija, where students at the Military Academy had an exercise titled Graduate 2009. The essence of defending the territorial integrity of Serbia, despite all trials, is conducting a peaceful policy and using diplomatic and legal means, Tadic said, adding that this was why Serbia had decided to move the Kosovo issue to the legal arena. He reiterated that membership in the EU was the country’s strategic goal, while, when it comes to security, Serbia was a member of the NATO’s Partnership for Peace program. "In the Partnership for Peace, it is our intention to work together with our security partners, to develop programs and raise the level of training of our forces," Tadic stated. The president said the "overall system of security of Serbia was a guarantee for the stability of the country and the entire region," and further stated that Serbia’s peaceful policy contributed to resolving conflict, not only in the region but elsewhere in the world. Tadic went on to say that an Army medical corps unit was preparing in cooperation with the Norwegian military to perform tasks at a peacekeeping mission in Chad. "I expect us to conclude the professionalization of the military late in 2010 and early in 2011, which is slightly slower due to the crisis," he said. EU: FACTS, NOT POLITICS WILL DECIDE WEST BALKAN VISAS

BRUSSELS, May 26 (Beta) - European Commission announced that it was approaching the issue of lifting visas for the EU to West Balkan countries in "a very pragmatic manner" and based on facts. Michele Cercone, spokesman for the EC, made this statement in Brussels, stressing that visa liberalization for the West Balkans was not as much a political issue as it was presented by certain media. This was the answer Cercone, spokesman for Jacques Barrot, EC vice president in charge of transport, gave when asked, in his meeting with Macedonian FM Antonio Milososki, if Barrot had said that the EC was striving toward a regional, group solution to the abolition of EU visas for the West Balkans. Though the EC has not published a report on what each country had achieved toward meeting the conditions for abolishing EU visas, it was unofficially confirmed that, in the region, only Macedonia had implemented all necessary measures. According to EU diplomatic sources, the EC seems to be considering politically keeping the entire region in the process of visa liberalization, along with the attitude that the facts and conditions met are decisive. Serbia, which has to resolve mainly technical issues, along with Montenegro, are believed to be able to implement all necessary measures by the fall, but the considerable lagging of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania present a problem. Diplomatic sources in Brussels feel that the EC may send a comprehensive report to the EU Council of Ministers in July, which would rule in the fall.

VOJVODINA & STYRIA TO COOPERATE IN BRUSSELS

NOVI SAD, May 26 (Tanjug) - Asutrian province Styria will make its space for organizing presentations in Brussels available to the Serbian province Vojvodina, head of the Styria Department for International and Regional Cooperation Ludwig Rader said in Graz meeting Vojvodina parliament Speaker Sandor Egeresi. They pointed to the intensive cooperation between the two provinces since 2003, when they signed an agreement on fostering economic and trade cooperation and cooperation between small and medium enterprises, universities and research centers on new technologies and other sectors, Egeresi’s office said. Vojvodina is Europe on a smaller scale and can offer much to the regions with which it cooperates and exchanges experiences aimed at accelerating Serbia’s integration in the EU, Egeresi said.

MEROLA: ITALY STRONGLY SUPPORTS SERBIA ON ITS EU PATHWAY

BELGRADE, May 27 (Tanjug) - Italian Ambassador to Serbia Alessandro Merola pointed out that official Rome strongly backed the admission of Serbia and other Balkan countries into the EU as that was in the interest of not only the Balkans itself, but also of Italy. Assessing that the relations between Serbia and Italy had reached their peak, Merola, with his departure ahead, said that Rome strongly advocated for Serbia’s joining the White Schengen List. This is something what is already underway and what we have been supporting from the very beginning, Merola stressed, pointing out, however, that things had not been finalized yet and that consensus was required from the European Commission and the signatories of the Schengen Agreement. The position of Serbia, which holds that it should issue passports to all the inhabitants of Kosovo, since it views Kosovo as its integral part, is understandable, but there are practical and legal problems in this respect, and talks seeking ways to resolve this are under way, the Italian ambassador said. We have been discussing the introduction of a number of limitations on the issuance of these passports, but it is for the government in Belgrade to decide how to do that, and for the Schengen member countries to say whether these limitations will suffice, he explained.The region of former Yugoslavia has to be stabilized, and this stabilisation will be achieved only once the Balkan countries join Europe, he said. Such an argumentation is not only in the interest of the Balkans, but also in the best interest of our own selves, Merola underlined.

SERBIA – ECONOMY

CVETKOVIC PUTS 620-MIL-EURO EXCAVATOR INTO OPERATION

KOSTOLAC, May 26 (Tanjug) - Premier Mirko Cvetkovic put into operation an excavator, worth 62 million euros, for digging up coal which aims to step up coal production in the Kostolac strip mines from 6.5 million tonnes to nine million tonnes per annum. Cvetkovic said that this investment is important because it was realized with funds secured by the Serbian Electric Power Company without additional loans. Cvetkovic added that the domestic industry’s participation in the project is over 60%. The realization of the BTO system (for the excavation, transport and discarding), which includes the excavator that went into use today, began in July 2007 and the goal of the project, designed according to EU standards and involving the Serbian machine-building industry, is to create conditions for the faster development of strip mining. Currently, Kostolac has capacities for producing 7.5 million tonnes of coal per annum, which enables the daily production of 1,000 mega Watts of electric power, while the mine’s annual coal production could amount to 12 million tonnes. Kostolac produces 20 million kiloWatt/hours on a daily basis, and this is 85% of Belgrade’s daily consumption. Ceremony was attended by Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy Georg Peter Enzweiler, as German companies Krupp and Takraf participated in the construction of the excavator.

MINISTER ANNOUNCES COOPERATION BETWEEN SERBIA & SLOVAKIA

BRATISLAVA, May 26 (Beta) - Minister of Mining and Energy Petar Skundric said that Serbia and Slovakia could cooperate on joint renewable energy projects in the future. "Our Slovak partners are open to starting joint projects and ventures for the use of biomass fuel and wind and solar energy," Skundric told at the end of his twoday visit to Slovakia. He said that he also discussed methods for replacing certain energy sources with Slovak officials and business representatives as Slovakia had replaced natural gas with biomass fuel and other energy sources in certain areas. Skundric also met with Slovak Minister of the Economy Jahnatek and business representatives on expanding economic cooperation. "We concluded that there was enough room for intensifying cooperation in the realm of energy," he said.

SERBIA TO INCREASE EXPORTS TO BELARUS

MINSK, May 26 (Tanjug) - Belarus Minister of Trade Valentin Chekanov said he expects trade with Serbia to increase shortly. After visiting the Serbian national exhibition in Minsk, he said he expects the exhibited products from Serbia to be available in Belarys soon. Prospects also exist for creating joint enterprises and building new factories, as well as for investments in large infrastructure and construction projects, he told the press. He expressed his conviction that bilateral trade totalling 60 million dollars annually will increase, especially after the two countries signed a free trade agreement on March 31 in Minsk. Belarus is particularly interested in food products and vehicle parts made in Serbia, he said.

MILOSAVLJEVIC: CONTRACT SIGNIFICANT FOR SERBIAN ENGINEERING

MINSK, May 27 (Tanjug) - Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic evaluated that the contract signed in Minsk on the construction of business center ’Vivaldi’ in Belarus capital, the total value of which is USD 107 million, is very significant for Serbian civil engineering because this project and construction will mainly employ Serbian companies. In a statement to the reporters Milosavljevic said that this was what Serbian state and business delegation expected on their arrival in Belarus, that is a cordial welcome, readiness to establish strong economic cooperation with Serbia and to implement the Free Trade Agreement that the two countries have recently signed in Minsk. Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) President Milos Bugarin evaluated that the first contract was signed only 24 hours after the opening of the National Exhibition of Serbia in Minsk which represents a good start for the performance of Serbian companies in this manifestation. "I believe there will be new contracts, particularly in the area of agriculture," Bugarin underscored, adding that Serbian agriculture and food industries have the biggest chance of thriving in Belarus market.

EFSE TO INVEST EUR50 MILLION IN SERBIA

BELGRADE, May 26 (Beta) - The European Fund for SouthEast Europe (EFSE) will invest EUR 50 million in Serbia in 2009, the chairman of the fund’s board of directors, Klaus Glaubitt, said. "The EFSE’s investment in the SouthEast European region will total EUR 200 million this year," Glaubitt told a news conference in Belgrade. EFSE is one of the world’s biggest microfinance funds, which collects funds from the private and public sectors and invests them through banks in loans to small and mediumsized enterprises and farmers, as well as to households for housing loans or the improvement of energy efficiency. According to Glaubitt, the European Commission has invested EUR 83 million in the EFSE and will ensure an additional EUR 10 million in 2009."The EFSE is committed to longterm support to economic development and to creating new jobs in South East European countries," he pointed out. EFSE chief investment manager Sylvia Wisniwski said the fund has invested EUR 529 million in the region since its founding in 2005, with EUR 80 million of said sum going to Serbia. Using those investments, the banks have approved 150,000 loans amounting to EUR 767 million. In Serbia, 20,000 loans totaling EUR 161 million have been granted so far. The EFSE’s plan is to provide EUR 150 million for loans in Serbia by 2010.The EFSE representatives highlighted that the fund’s annual assembly will be held in Novi Sad between May 26 and 28, which is another indicator of the fund’s longterm devotion to Serbia.

KOSOVO – METOHIJA

TADIC: SERBIA IS BEING DEFENDED BY DIPLOMATIC & LEGAL MEANS

CUPRIJA, May 26 (Tanjug) - President Tadic said that Serbia is defending its territorial integrity and sovereignty solely through diplomatic and legal means. Speaking after the end of a military excercise by Military Academy graduates Tadic said that the essence of the defence of Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, despite all challenges we are facing, is the conducting of a peaceful policy. Tadic said that this is why Serbia’s decision to transfer the entire problem of the resolution of the future status of Kosovo and Metohija from the political and defence spheres to the legal sphere, has longterm importance. This is both a totally novel approach to the resolution of such challenges in the region of Southeast Europe and Serbia’s contribution to the resolution of similar problems worldwide, Tadic stated. He told the members of the armed forces that the country’s policy is a peaceful one and that Europe and the entire world can count on Serbia. Tadic underscored that the Serbian Army is the instrument of the social policy of Serbia - a democratic country that aims to become a EU member, but that the Army also has exceptional technical and educational resources and potentials. Pointing out the need for conducting training excercises, Tadic said that Serbia’s non-commissioned officers, strudents and troops would be trained for carrying out the most complex tasks and that, when necessary, they will be deployed in peace operations. Tadic recalled that currently seven military doctors are undergoing preparations for joining Norway’s contigent in peace operations in The Chad and that all democratic procedures would be adhered in their depolyment. Tadic noted the importance of Serbia’s international potentials and reputation that are always confirmed through participation in UN peace operations.

SEJDIU & THACI: ISLAMIC CONFERENCE RESOLUTION VERY IMPORTANT

PRISTINA, May 26 (Beta) - The president and premier of Kosovo, Sejdiu and Thaci, thanked the members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference for adopting a resolution they consider to be of exceptional importance to Kosovo. At a specifically organized news conference with Thaci, Sejdiu said the resolution was an expression of the common positions and policies of members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. We are very grateful to all states supporting the state of Kosovo. Though 13 of the 57 members of the Islamic Conference have recognized Kosovo’s independence to date, the passing of this resolution is a clear message and further encouragement for all these countries to recognize the Republic of Kosovo in the near future, Thaci stated. The premier of Kosovo said the resolution rated highly the great progress and fluctuations made in Kosovo after the proclamation of independence and that it urged the international community to continue to help the development of the state of Kosovo.

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Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia