Grubjesic: Serbia goes to Europe where it belongs
Everybody has it clear that it is no longer possible to conduct a policy at two separate tracks - the EU and Kosovo, as they are interconnected and combined into one, Suzana Grubjesic, deputy prime minister for EU integration, said in an interview.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Thursday, December 13, 2012
"This means that Serbia's progress in the EU integration process most directly and exclusively depends on the resolution of the Kosovo issue. If someone has any doubts, one should check the conclusions of the meeting of the EU Council of Ministers in which the date for the beginning of the talks is directly related to the continuation of the dialogue and normalization of the Belgrade-Pristina relations," she said.
Grubjesic also underlined that this does not mean that Serbia is giving up on protection of legitimate interests of Serbs in Kosovo, or that it will recognize Kosovo's independence.
In the first four months of its work, the government has demonstrated rationality and flexibility, primarily by implementation of all agreements reached in the technical dialogue, and particularly by opening of a political dialogue with Kosovo Albanians, which has not existed in the last three decades.
When asked what normalization of relations with Pristina exactly means, Grubjesic said that this does not imply recognition of Kosovo's independence, and all sides in the dialogue have that clear.
"However, the normalization of relations includes implementation of the agreements on stamps, cadastres, civil registries, diplomas, and everything that could in any way facilitate the daily life of people in Kosovo. Normalization is also the opening of the political dialogue, and implementation of the agreement on integrated management of crossing points. Normalization is also the search for a solution for north Kosovo, property issues, and return of expelled Serbs and other non-Albanians," she underlined.
Speaking about the regional cooperation, the deputy prime minister said that this is an important aspect of the EU integration process, and it is understood that Serbia should cooperate with all neighboring states.
Grubjesic, however, underlined that Serbia was struck by the decision of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to acquit Croat generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac because it is shameful and scandalous, and noted that it triggered an explosion of nationalism in Croatia.
"I am proud of the fact that Serbia, the way it is - imperfect and incomplete, is still the only multiethnic state in the region where 26 nations live and exercise their rights," she said.
"I do not have a problem in facing the past, but I have a problem with the fact that even 17 years after Flesh and Storm (Croatian military-police actions in 1995) it is unknown who killed and expelled Serbs from Croatia. I understand that every nation has its distorted mirror and its version of the past, but it is difficult for me to understand that the justice that is being delivered by the ICTY is so selective and one-sided," Grubjesic said.
She did not want to speculate about the dates for any phase of Serbia's EU accession.
"It is unlikely that we will get a date for the beginning of the talks before spring 2013, but we were right to expect that on December 10 the Council will recognize both Serbia's efforts and progress in the normalization of relations with Pristina," Grubjesic stated.
Grubjesic also underlined that this does not mean that Serbia is giving up on protection of legitimate interests of Serbs in Kosovo, or that it will recognize Kosovo's independence.
In the first four months of its work, the government has demonstrated rationality and flexibility, primarily by implementation of all agreements reached in the technical dialogue, and particularly by opening of a political dialogue with Kosovo Albanians, which has not existed in the last three decades.
When asked what normalization of relations with Pristina exactly means, Grubjesic said that this does not imply recognition of Kosovo's independence, and all sides in the dialogue have that clear.
"However, the normalization of relations includes implementation of the agreements on stamps, cadastres, civil registries, diplomas, and everything that could in any way facilitate the daily life of people in Kosovo. Normalization is also the opening of the political dialogue, and implementation of the agreement on integrated management of crossing points. Normalization is also the search for a solution for north Kosovo, property issues, and return of expelled Serbs and other non-Albanians," she underlined.
Speaking about the regional cooperation, the deputy prime minister said that this is an important aspect of the EU integration process, and it is understood that Serbia should cooperate with all neighboring states.
Grubjesic, however, underlined that Serbia was struck by the decision of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to acquit Croat generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac because it is shameful and scandalous, and noted that it triggered an explosion of nationalism in Croatia.
"I am proud of the fact that Serbia, the way it is - imperfect and incomplete, is still the only multiethnic state in the region where 26 nations live and exercise their rights," she said.
"I do not have a problem in facing the past, but I have a problem with the fact that even 17 years after Flesh and Storm (Croatian military-police actions in 1995) it is unknown who killed and expelled Serbs from Croatia. I understand that every nation has its distorted mirror and its version of the past, but it is difficult for me to understand that the justice that is being delivered by the ICTY is so selective and one-sided," Grubjesic said.
She did not want to speculate about the dates for any phase of Serbia's EU accession.
"It is unlikely that we will get a date for the beginning of the talks before spring 2013, but we were right to expect that on December 10 the Council will recognize both Serbia's efforts and progress in the normalization of relations with Pristina," Grubjesic stated.
