Mrkic:We expect constructive influence of Slovenia
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic stated Friday in Ljubljana, at a meeting with Slovenian officials on fostering bilateral relations, Kosovo and Serbia's EU Integration, that Serbia expected Slovenia to have a constructive influence on Pristina's authorities when it comes to the forthcoming Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Friday, October 26, 2012
This was the new Serbian foreign minister's first visit to a former Yugoslav republic.
Mrkic told his interlocutors in Ljubljana what the priorities of the new Serbian government were, and today's meetings were, according to him, part of preparations for Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic's visit to Slovenia, scheduled for November 14.
The foreign minister also conferred with Slovenian Parliament Speaker Gregor Virant, and then had a plenary meeting behind closed doors with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Karl Erjavec.
"Slovenia is an important partner in political and economic cooperation and it gives support to Serbia and the Western Balkans on their EU path," Mrkic told The press after the meeting.
As he put it, his Slovenian interlocutors were interested in the beginning of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, agreements reached in Brussels and what the chief motive of the forthcoming visit of U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton was.
"We can assume that there will be great interest in Serbia's position (in the dialogue). We are at the end of forming the position and hope that the platform (on Kosovo) will be finished in the coming days and that we will be able to share the information with the public," Mrkic pointed out.
"We also mentioned that the Serb community in Slovenia should be treated like the Slovenian minority in Serbia. We think that their position can be improved," the minister added.
Broadcasting Mrkic and Erjavec's joint press conference, the STA news agency reported that the ministers qualified the relations between the two countries as friendly and without major problems.
There are things that should be resolved and they are mostly related to the succession of the former SFRY, Erjavec said, and added that this needed to be done as soon as possible.
Mrkic stressed that the date for the next round of Belgrade-Pristina talks has not yet been set, but that this could take place in November, adding that there will be more information after next week's visit of Catherine Ashton and Hillary Clinton.
"We intend to negotiate seriously and openly, but we do not intend to recognize Kosovo," Mrkic said, STA reported.
Mrkic also told the press that Serbia is taking "all the necessary measures" to prevent abuse of visa liberalization by Serbian citizens seeking asylum in the countries of the EU.
Mrkic told his interlocutors in Ljubljana what the priorities of the new Serbian government were, and today's meetings were, according to him, part of preparations for Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic's visit to Slovenia, scheduled for November 14.
The foreign minister also conferred with Slovenian Parliament Speaker Gregor Virant, and then had a plenary meeting behind closed doors with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Karl Erjavec.
"Slovenia is an important partner in political and economic cooperation and it gives support to Serbia and the Western Balkans on their EU path," Mrkic told The press after the meeting.
As he put it, his Slovenian interlocutors were interested in the beginning of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, agreements reached in Brussels and what the chief motive of the forthcoming visit of U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton was.
"We can assume that there will be great interest in Serbia's position (in the dialogue). We are at the end of forming the position and hope that the platform (on Kosovo) will be finished in the coming days and that we will be able to share the information with the public," Mrkic pointed out.
"We also mentioned that the Serb community in Slovenia should be treated like the Slovenian minority in Serbia. We think that their position can be improved," the minister added.
Broadcasting Mrkic and Erjavec's joint press conference, the STA news agency reported that the ministers qualified the relations between the two countries as friendly and without major problems.
There are things that should be resolved and they are mostly related to the succession of the former SFRY, Erjavec said, and added that this needed to be done as soon as possible.
Mrkic stressed that the date for the next round of Belgrade-Pristina talks has not yet been set, but that this could take place in November, adding that there will be more information after next week's visit of Catherine Ashton and Hillary Clinton.
"We intend to negotiate seriously and openly, but we do not intend to recognize Kosovo," Mrkic said, STA reported.
Mrkic also told the press that Serbia is taking "all the necessary measures" to prevent abuse of visa liberalization by Serbian citizens seeking asylum in the countries of the EU.
