REPUBLIC OF SERBIA - MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

 IVANKO: UNMIK COMPLETED MOST OF ITS TASKS SERBIA

TADIC PREACHES REGIONAL COOPERATION AT SUMMIT

CHISINAU, June 5 (Beta) - At a summit of Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) member countries, Serbian President Boris Tadic called for an increase in regional cooperation and a continuation of European integration for Serbia and the entire region. Tadic called on the participants of the summit held in the capital city of Moldova to remain restrained on the Kosovo issue and to not preempt the decision of the International Court of Justice. "Everyone must respect the fact that the International Court of Justice is debating the topic and no one can preempt the decision of the court before that. Because of this, regional organizations such as the SEECP must refrain from trying to accept the separatist government of Pristina as a member," Tadic said. Reminding that UNMIK had signed an agreement with the CEFTA organization, the Serbian President warned that the economic topics cannot be politicized nor can they serve to condition the entrance of Serb officials to Kosovo. Speaking on regional cooperation, Tadic said that cooperation calls for "focusing attention on joint interests, overcoming conflicts of the past and stressing the moral, economic, political and cultural advantages of joint efforts." Tadic said that there is a fear that uncertainty regarding the acceptance of the Lisbon agreement and the global financial crisis can lead to the European Union turning towards itself, which would in turn lead to a slowing of the enlargement process. "For some countries of the Western Balkans, membership (in the Union) seems further away today than five years ago. As a definite factor for stability in the Western Balkans, we understand the disappointment of our neighbors. Serbia, however, is not a fatalistic country and we have adopted a new constructive approach," Tadic said.

CHISINAU DECLARATION ADOPTED

CHISINAU, June 5 (Tanjug) - Representatives of the member states of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) adopted the Chisinau Declaration and the Joint Statement expressing full support to the work of the Sarajevo-based Regional Cooperation Council (RCC). Opening the meeting of heads of state and government of the SEECP member states, which is also attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic, Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin said that his country finds regional cooperation very important and believes that it plays an important role in bringing Southeastern Europe closer to the European Union. He promised further political and financial support to the RCC, which is the body that should help achieve joint goals through joint projects. "Good neighbourly accommodations are essential for moving South East Europe (SEE) forward at the time of challenging regional agenda and the adverse effects of the current economic and financial crisis", said Hido Biscevic, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), at the meeting of the SEE Heads of State and Government, held in Chisinau today. "The Chisinau Declaration and the Joint Statement, calling for enhanced partnership of our countries to realize strategic goals and address longstanding and new economic and social needs of our region, provide for a much needed platform aimed at forging stability and integration through accelerated development", said Biscevic. The summit marked the end of the SEECP Chairmanship-in-Office (CiO) of the Republic of Moldova and the beginning of the Turkish CiO over the next year.

TADIC: NO ONE WILL BE SPARED IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION

BELGRADE, Jun 7 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Tadic said that no one will be spared in the fight against crime and corruption. No one will be spared when protection of law, order and peace are at stake, Tadic told after the celebration of the Police Day. This applies to members of political parties, large proprietors and people close to the state, too, he emphasized. All institutions, including the parliament, the police and the Army must be encouraged to do their job, he said. State institutions will investigate suspect privatization cases, and illegally gained property will be seized and culprits taken to justice, he said. He added that he frequently receives complaints regarding conduct of owners of privatized companies and said that relevant institutions must do their job and protect workers’ rights, like in any other civilized country.

DACIC: FIGHTING CRIME CORRUPTION IS POLICE PRIORITY

BELGRADE, Jun 7 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said at a celebration of Police Day that fighting crime and corruption is the basic police priority. The celebration was attended by President Tadic, Prime Minister Cvetkovic, ministers, diplomats, regional police officials and guests. In the past few decades, criminals got used to believing they were stronger that the state, that might it right and that they can do anything using force, threats and blackmail, but they are wrong Dacic said. All who have bought everything in Serbia and believe that they own Serbia are wrong, he said, noting that noone will be spared or privileged in the fight against crime. Dacic said that the goal of his Ministry is a modern, professional, efficient, trained and technically equipped police, able to deal with all security issues the state faces. Police priority is the fight against crime and corruption, as well as defense of the country from terrorism, which is what police units do in the Ground Safety Zone on daily basis, he said. In this regard, he pointed out that the police will keep using all means to fight terrorism and protect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia. Dacic emphasized that the task of the police is to maintain public law and order, adding that this will be successfully shown soon when Belgrade will host the biggest European competition - the Universiade 2009.

OSCE OFFICIAL CALLS FOR CHECKING SYSTEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

BELGRADE, Jun 6 (Beta) - OSCE mission advisor on economic transparency Stefano Donati said that he hoped that a checking system for public finances and the efficiency of state bodies would be launched as soon as possible. "Audits can be the richest source of information and a very efficient tool for uncovering, as well as stopping cases of corruption," Donati told, recalling that it was now four years since Parliament had passed a law on the state auditing institution. As for the Agency for Fighting Corruption, which is set to start next year, Donati said that the agency was the first institution in Serbia with comprehensive powers for battling corruption. "This is reflected in one of the key goals of the Agency which is supervising the implementation of the National Strategy for Fighting Corruption" Donati said. When asked to comment on the law on partisan financing, Donati said that "I know that there are indications that this law is being changed," adding that when this started, the OSCE "will offer its support and expert assistance" in drafting the amendments. Speaking on the struggle against corruption, moneylaundering and financial crime, Donati said that the "biggest problem is mobilizing institutional, legal, human and material resources" in the battle against these occurrences, and coordinating them. Commenting on claims that purchasing real estate was one of the most common forms of moneylaundering in Serbia, Donati said that "the real estate sector in Serbia is undergoing many changes," adding that "there is probably a potential risk" for moneylaundering in this sector. Donati also stressed that the OSCE was helping Serbia in the battle against corruption, moneylaundering and organized financial crime, pointing to the example of the Economic Transparency Program. He added that the OSCE was also helping Serbia with judicial reforms and reforms of the prison system.

DACIC: SERBIA & RUSSIA RESOLVED TO CONTINUE GOOD COOPERATION

ST. PETERBURG, June 5 (Tanjug) - Serbian and Russian Federation officials confirmed in St. Peterburg the resolve that good economic and political relations between the two countries should continue to develop and deepen, underscoring the wish of the Russian side to help Serbia through credit arrangements for investment projects and for the stabilization of Serbia’s budget. Serbian Deputy Premier Ivica Dacic told that the talks with Russian President Medvedev, who opened the World Economic Forum, confirmed the resolve that political and economic cooperation between the two countries should continue and be developped further. "Russian President underscored the wish for Russia to help Serbia with credit arrangements for investment projects and for the stabilization of the Serbian budget, and I discussed this with the Russian finance minister, and this will be concretely discussed over the coming weeks by the representatives of the two governments," Dacic stated.

DACIC: SERBIA & RUSSIA TO FOSTER RELATIONS

BELGRADE, June 7 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Premier and Co-Chairman of the Serbian - Russian Inter - Governmental Committee for Cooperation Ivica Dacic described as very successful the visit of the Serbian delegation to Russia, pointing out the determination of both countries to continue to develop and deepen their good economic and political relations. On his return from St. Peterburg where he attended the World Economic Forum, Dacic told that Russian officials reiterated their readiness to help Serbia through credit arrangements for infrastructure projects and for stabilization of Serbia’s budget. In the talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the resolve that political and economic cooperation between the two countries should continue and be developped further was confirmed, he said.

SKUNDRIC: GAS STORAGE FACILITY MUST BE FILLED SOONEST

ST PETERSBURG, Jun 5 (Tanjug) - Energy Minister Petar Skundric and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin agreed that the filling of the Banatski Dvor gas storage facility should start immediately in order to prevent another possible gas or energy supply crisis. The talk focused on prospects for greater participation of Russian partners in the purchase of Serbian oil company NIS and in the privatization or strategic cooperation regarding Petrohemija company, he told. Russia was also interetsed in fostering cooperation in the power industry, especially in construction of gas-powered heating or power generation plants, and is expected to propose another cooperation protocol in this sector, he said.

TALKS ON MILITARY COOPERATION BETWEEN SERBIA AND SPAIN

BELGRADE, June 5 (Tanjug) - Serbian Army Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Mladen Cirkovic met with the Secretary General for Defence Policy of the Spanish Defence Ministry Luis Manuel Cuesta Civis to discuss cooperation between their two armies. The two officials concluded that the forthcoming visit to Belgrade by Spain’s chief of general staff is a confirmation that mutual military relations are on the rise, the Serbian Army announced. Lt-Gen Cirkovic informed the Spanish delegation about the current situation in the process of the transformation and reorganization of the Serbian Army and expressed gratitude for Spain’s principled position on independence of Kosovo and Metohija. The talks were also attended by Spain’s ambassador Ignacio de Palacio Espana, a statement said.

POSSIBILITIES FOR PROMOTING MILITARY COOPERATION

BELGRADE, June 5 (Tanjug) - Serbian Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac and a delegation of the Iraqi Interior Ministry, who met, expressed satisfaction with cooperation achieved so far and concluded that there are possibilities for its promotion. The meeting also discussed possibilities for education and joint training, the Defence Ministry announced. The Iraqi delegation, headed by General Iden Khaled Kadir, underscored possibilities of further cooperation in the sphere of the defence industry, the Defence Ministry said.

SERBIA-PORTUGAL AGREEMENT ON JUDICIARY COOPERATION REACHED

BELGRADE, June 5 (Tanjug) - State organs should always be one step ahead of mafia, and for that reason we should be in touch and cooperate with other states in view of the anti-crime fight, Serbian Minister of Justice Snezana Malovic stated. "The signing of the Agreement on strengthening of cooperation in fighting transnational crime between the Serbian and Portuguese judiciaries represents one step forward towards the goals of the Serbian government - fight against corruption and crime, and European integrations," Malovic said after the signing ceremony. The agreement was signed in the Palace of Serbia by the state prosecutors of Serbia and Portugal, Slobodan Radovanovic and Fernando Jose Pinto Monteiro, respectively. Monteiro pointed out that the agreement will make it possible to turn theory into practice, and underscored that the document’s application will contribute to the improvement of cooperation in this field.

KALAMPEROVIC OPTIMISTIC IN RESPECT OF VISA LIBERALIZATION

PODGORICA, June 8 (Tanjug) - Montenegrin Interior Minister Jusuf Kalamperovic is optimistic in respect of Montenegro’s progress in fulfilling conditions for visa liberalization, of which he will inform the European Commission representatives in Brussels Thursday. We will inform them of what Montenegro has done so far, as well as what we will do and when in the following period, the minister said. Kalamperovic said that he is optimistic, particularly after the EC Vice-President Jacques Barrot’s statement on the possibility to abolish visas for Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia, the Podgorica media have reported.

SERBIA – EU / SCHENGEN

DJELIC EXPECTS VISA LIBERALIZATION SOON

BELGRADE, Jun 5 (Tanjug) - Visa liberalization for Serbia is a goal that will be realized soon, Deputy Prime Minister for integration in Europe Bozidar Djelic told. The stand of European Commission Vice President Jacques Barrot, who announced the possibility of visa liberalization by the end of the year, was the strongest expression of support to Serbia so far, he said. Serbia should not try to guess a date for visa liberalization, but Barrot’s statement is important, he said. Barrot said that by the end of the year, the EU might give the green light to Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia for the abolishment of Schengen visas, and that a relevant report will be presented to Western Balkan countries in July. If the EU takes this decision, the citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia will be able to travel to the EU without visas as of January 1, 2010.

DJELIC DOES NOT EXPECT NETHERLANDS TO CHANGE VIEW

BELGRADE, Jun 6 (Tanjug) - Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Djelic said that the Netherlands is very adamant in regard to unfreezing the Serbia-EU Agreement implementation, creating a discrepancy between its policy and the stands of other EU states and the US, which have assessed that Serbia fully cooperates with ICTY. The Netherlands cannot be expected to change its stand any time soon, he said in an interview to Tanjug. It is therefore essential to complete cooperation with ICTY, he said, expressing his conviction than the increasingly more positive reports by ICTY Chief Prosecutor Brammertz will produce effects in a long term. Djelic pointed out that this year will not be lost in view of European integration and that Serbia will keep doing everything in its power to complete cooperation with the Tribunal and pave the way for the unfreezing of the Interim Trade Agreement. The view of the Vice President of the EC Jacques Barrot, who announced possible cancellation of visas for Serbian citizens, is the strongest support Serbia has had so far, and it will not be long before Serbia is included in the White Schengen List, he said. Djelic added that Serbia will apply for the EU membership candidacy after consultations with European partners and underlined that it is even more important to have the application reviewed in good time and to acquire the candidate status. The EU enlargement does not depend on Serbia only, Europe has its institutional problems too, as well as problems caused by global recession, he said.

SUTANOVAC: NATO MEMBERSHIP IS NOT PRE-CONDITION FOR JOINING EU

BELGRADE, Jun 7 (Tanjug) - Serbian Defense Minister Sutanovac said that Serbia can become an EU member state without joining NATO first. In talks with the highest officials of the EU and NATO, assurances were given that recognition of Kosovo independence and NATO membership cannot be pre-conditions for Serbia’s EU integration, he said in an interview to the Novosti daily. It would be naive to think that a referendum on accession to NATO might be held soon in Serbia, he said. This is not a good time for a referendum, as the Army still has a lot to do in reforms and professionalization, he said. In addition, the issue of NATO accession is not only a security issue but also an issue of economic development, he noted. Integrations guarantee security and economic stability, Sutanovac said.

FRANCO FRATTINI: NO LONGER POSTPONED THESE ISSUES

ROME, Jun 6 (Tanjug) - Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on the eve of his visit to Serbia, scheduled for June 8, that unfreezing of the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU and ratification of the SAA are issues that can no longer be postponed. The EU should recognize and accept positive signals received from Serbia over the past months and should crown Serbia’s efforts with the status of candidate for EU membership, Frattini said in his interview to Tanjug. Great progress has been made in the past ten years to that end, but it is easy to understand the impatience of Serbia’s citizens, he said. One of the countries dissatisfied with the rate of Western Balkans’ integration in the EU is precisely Italy, which is doing everything to overcome the resistance some in the EU are feeling, he said. He noted that the goal of his visit to Belgrade is to urge all to work together to remove the remaining obstacles. Asked what he expects of the EU Council of Ministers session on June 15 and 16, Frattini responded that in his opinion, unfreezing of the Interim Trade Agreement with the EU and ratification of the SAA are steps that can no longer be postponed. He added that he conferred last week in Rome with the Dutch foreign minister and, after hearing his views, explained to him the strategic importance of the decision the EU should take to open its doors to friends in Serbia. This is not only in the interest of Italy, but of the whole EU, he said. As for inclusion of Serbia in the White Schengen List, the Italian Minister believes that Serbia has fulfilled all conditions of the EC for cancellation of visas and that visa liberalization should be realized in 2009. Italy will do everything to help Serbia realize this goal in 2009, he said. The time has come to pull down the barrier between the people in the Balkans and the EU, he said, noting that this is the basic premise of his eight-year plan for accelerating the fostering of closer ties between Western Balkans and the EU. Asked how the reservations of some countries regarding the issuing of Serbian passports to Kosovo citizens, he said that the European Commission is considering this issue together with Belgrade and seeking the means of meeting the roadmap parameters. Frattini, who will visit Serbia together with Romanian Foreign Ministers Cristian Diaconescu, said that another goal of the visit will be to foster integrated economic and trade development in the region together with Serbia and Romania to the benefit of all its residents. As regards bilateral relations, he said they are historically very close and that Italy and Serbia share deep feelings of human and cultural togetherness. Bilateral military cooperation is a model for developed cooperation, he said, noting that Serbian officers will shortly join the Italian contingent in the peace mission in Afghanistan. This is someting that both countries can be proud of, he added.

VAN DEN BERG: NETHERLANDS’ STAND UNCHANGED

BELGRADE, Jun 6 (Tanjug) - Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesman Job van den Berg said his country sees no reason to change its stand on implementation of Serbia - EU interim agreement and on ratification of the SAA. That can change only when Serbia achieves full cooperation with ICTY, he said. The report of Serge Brammertz did not enable the Netherlands to conclude that full cooperation has been achieved, he told Politika. The Dutch government has been firm for 13 months in its stand that the interim agreement cannot be unfrozen without extradition of Mladic, which it interprets as full cooperation, the paper notes.

FRANCE SUPPORTS ABOLISHING OF EU VISAS FOR SERBIAN CITIZENS

BELGRADE, Jun 6 (Beta) - France believes that Serbia’s visas for the EU should be abolished as soon as possible, French ambassador to Serbia Jean-Francois Terral said. "France strongly supports abolishing visas for Serbia as soon as possible," Terral said, adding that he believes that progress has been made in completing the technical aspects of the issue and that everything that is left can be completed easily. "I would like to add that Sarkozy told Tadic very clearly" that France supports the abolishing of the EU visa regime for Serbian citizens. During the recent visit of Tadic and a Serbian delegation in France, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Djelic met with the minister for immigration and European affairs minister, Terral said. "Technical details (for abolishing visas) were also discussed and France stated how much it supports the abolishing of visas for Serbia," the ambassador added.

KOSOVO – METOHIJA

NO ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS WITH EULEX ON CROSSINGS

BELGRADE, June 5 (Tanjug) - The Ministry for Kosovska Mitrovica and Metohija stated that the Serbian government did not reach any additional agreements with the EULEX mission regarding the procedure of administrative line crossing at the Jarinje and Brnjak crossing. "Earlier agreed protocols in keeping with UN SC Resolution 1244 with UNMIK were confirmed, it was said in a statement. The ministry underscored that customs remains one of the six points included in the report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on November 2008, and that more work will be done in that area. "Serbia will not agree with the unilateral moves and decisions, which are not in keeping with Res 1244 and relevant reports by the UN secretary general, which applies to all, including the EU mission," the ministry said. It was also underscored that our goal is to reach a compromising solution through negotiations. "In that light, the official Belgrade has always had a constructive stand in order to reach a solution acceptable to all sides," it was said in the statement.Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Bogdanovic said two days ago that Serbia had never signed any agreement with EULEX on introducing customs at administrative crossings Brnjak and Jarinje, in the north.

BOGDANOVIC URGES NORTH KOSOVO SERBS TO COOPERATE WITH EULEX

LEPOSAVIC, June 8 (Tanjug) - Serbian Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Bogdanovic called on the municipal leaderships and Serbs of northern Kosovo to cooperate with the EU mission EULEX, pointing out that the Serbian govenment last year gave its approval for the deployment of this EU mission in Kosovo. Bogdanovic made the appeal in the Kosovo town of Leposavic, following a meeting with the municipal ledership and on the occasion of an announcement that Serbs of northern Kosovo will stage a protest rally in Jarinje tomorrow against the EULEX decision to begin collecting customs duty at the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative crossings between the province and Serbia proper. "It is not possible for the Serbian government to adopt one decision and the local self-government in the north (of Kosovo) another. That is unacceptable and it leads to even greater confusion, problems, and the frustration of all Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. I have told the local leadership in Leposavic that we must communicate with the EULEX and attempt to resolve problems with them," Bogdanovic said. Bogdanovic reiterated that "the Republic of Serbia is firmly resolved never to recognize the independence of Kosovo." Belgrade is determined in favor of the use of dialogue, and not violence, for the resolving of problems in Kosovo, he said.

IVANKO: UNMIK COMPLETED MOST OF ITS TASKS

GRACANICA, June 8 (Tanjug) - Spokesman for the UNMIK Alexander Ivanko said that except for the return of displaced persons to Kosovo, UNMIK had completed all the other tasks envisaged by UN SC Resolution 1244. Ivanko assessed that the only thing which he believed should be done in a better was the issue regarding the return of displaced persons. Very few people have returned to Kosovo, Ivanko said. Although return also depends on the will of these people themselves, we have to bear in mind the fact that 10 years have elapsed (as of 1999), he added, noting that UNMIK had performed most of its other tasks. In an interview with Radio KiM, he said that UNMIK had been undergoing a reconfiguration process ever since last year, and that the new budget, which had been discussed at the recent UN General Assembly, envisaged the presence of 507 UN personnel. The figure includes both international and local personnel in Kosovo, as well as the people working in our offices in Belgrade and Skopje, Ivanko said. For further information:

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia