Stefanovic's talks in Luxembourg
Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic conferred Friday with Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn on Serbia's EU integration process, the problem of asylum seekers, and the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue after the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) acquitted three Kosovo Albanians charged with war crimes against Serbs.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Sunday, December 02, 2012
Asselborn was particularly interested to learn whether there is political will in Serbia for the dialogue with Pristina to continue following the ICTY verdict, the office of the parliament speaker said.
Stefanovic underlined that the ICTY acquittal of Kosovo Albanians and Croatian generals of crimes committed against Serbs in Operation Storm is contrary to international law and any sense of justice.
He said that this will definitely affect the reconciliation process in the region, but that Serbia will continue the talks on the resolution of practical issues with a view to normalization of lives of all citizens.
Stefanovic reiterated that Serbia will not recognize Kosovo or abolish its institutions in the north of the province, and expressed hope that Luxembourg will support the proposal for Serbia to get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks as soon as possible.
Minister of Labour, Employment and Migration Nicolas Schmit said in the talks with Stefanovic that the number of asylum seekers from Serbia has been considerably reduced this year.
This was encouraged by Luxembourg's decision to grant Serbia the status of a safe country, the statement said.
Stefanovic also conferred with Vice President of the European Investment Bank Dario Scannapieco, and informed him that the climate for investors in Serbia will improve with the adoption of the laws on public procurement and fight against corruption.
At the meeting with President of the European Court of Auditors Vitor Caldeira, the topic of the talks was the recently published report on Kosovo, which was forwarded to the European Commission.
In the talks with Vice President of the European Court of Justice Koen Lenaerts, the two officials agreed on closer cooperation with this court, particularly in processing of the lawsuits relating to refugees and displaced persons from the territory of the former Yugoslavia.
Stefanovic also had an audience with Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, who inquired about the current political situation in Serbia and humanitarian projects in which he took part.
At the end of his two-day visit, Stefanovic met with Luxembourg Mayor Xavier Bettel.
Stefanovic underlined that the ICTY acquittal of Kosovo Albanians and Croatian generals of crimes committed against Serbs in Operation Storm is contrary to international law and any sense of justice.
He said that this will definitely affect the reconciliation process in the region, but that Serbia will continue the talks on the resolution of practical issues with a view to normalization of lives of all citizens.
Stefanovic reiterated that Serbia will not recognize Kosovo or abolish its institutions in the north of the province, and expressed hope that Luxembourg will support the proposal for Serbia to get a date for the beginning of the EU accession talks as soon as possible.
Minister of Labour, Employment and Migration Nicolas Schmit said in the talks with Stefanovic that the number of asylum seekers from Serbia has been considerably reduced this year.
This was encouraged by Luxembourg's decision to grant Serbia the status of a safe country, the statement said.
Stefanovic also conferred with Vice President of the European Investment Bank Dario Scannapieco, and informed him that the climate for investors in Serbia will improve with the adoption of the laws on public procurement and fight against corruption.
At the meeting with President of the European Court of Auditors Vitor Caldeira, the topic of the talks was the recently published report on Kosovo, which was forwarded to the European Commission.
In the talks with Vice President of the European Court of Justice Koen Lenaerts, the two officials agreed on closer cooperation with this court, particularly in processing of the lawsuits relating to refugees and displaced persons from the territory of the former Yugoslavia.
Stefanovic also had an audience with Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri, who inquired about the current political situation in Serbia and humanitarian projects in which he took part.
At the end of his two-day visit, Stefanovic met with Luxembourg Mayor Xavier Bettel.
