Nikolic wants no 'Kosovo or EU' dilemma for Serbia
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic has said that he hopes that European politicians will not make Serbia choose between Kosovo and the EU and stressed that the fact that five EU members have not recognized Kosovo's independence as very important for Serbia.
(kosovocompromisestuff) Wednesday, January 23, 2013
As a state, we have met the majority of the criteria that other countries that have begun their accession negotiations with the EU met before we did, Nikolic told Slovakian newspaper Pravda during his official visit to Bratislava on Tuesday.
I want to believe European politicians who reiterate every day that Serbia should be an equal member of the European family of nations, said Nikolic.
I wish to believe that these same politicians, my esteemed colleagues, will not make us choose between Kosovo and the EU, said the Serbian president.
Nikolic said it was very important for Serbia that despite pressure, five EU member states, including Slovakia, maintained their principled position about not recognizing the so-called independent Kosovo.
It gives us hope that ethnically motivated secessionism would not be recognized by the EU as a legitimate method of solving political problems, said the Serbian president.
Nikolic said that Serbia could get a date for the start of negotiations with the EU in the first half of the 2013, if that which was expected of Serbia in the process of resolving the Kosovo-Metohija issue was not materially inconsistent with Serbia's state and national interests.
I assure you the Republic of Serbia is very focused on its efforts to meet the requirements for the start of accession negotiations, said Nikolic. Unfortunately, Serbia is expected to meet much more requirements than other countries had to meet when they were beginning their membership talks, the Serbian president added.
Asked how it had happened that he had not visited Kosovo-Metohija despite being Serbia's president and that he had not been allowed to visit the territory even during Christmas holidays, Nikolic said that it was not his shame.
The fact that at this moment, even during the most joyful Christian holidays, I am not permitted to enter the territory of Kosovo, which is run by the UN, the EU and the international forces led by NATO, is not my shame, said Nikolic.
Shame on those who are unable to conduct their internationally recognized mandates in the way they should, he added.
Nevertheless, I am confident I will have the opportunity to visit my people and the threatened Serbian churches and monasteries in Kosovo-Metohija soon, the Serbian president said.
I want to believe European politicians who reiterate every day that Serbia should be an equal member of the European family of nations, said Nikolic.
I wish to believe that these same politicians, my esteemed colleagues, will not make us choose between Kosovo and the EU, said the Serbian president.
Nikolic said it was very important for Serbia that despite pressure, five EU member states, including Slovakia, maintained their principled position about not recognizing the so-called independent Kosovo.
It gives us hope that ethnically motivated secessionism would not be recognized by the EU as a legitimate method of solving political problems, said the Serbian president.
Nikolic said that Serbia could get a date for the start of negotiations with the EU in the first half of the 2013, if that which was expected of Serbia in the process of resolving the Kosovo-Metohija issue was not materially inconsistent with Serbia's state and national interests.
I assure you the Republic of Serbia is very focused on its efforts to meet the requirements for the start of accession negotiations, said Nikolic. Unfortunately, Serbia is expected to meet much more requirements than other countries had to meet when they were beginning their membership talks, the Serbian president added.
Asked how it had happened that he had not visited Kosovo-Metohija despite being Serbia's president and that he had not been allowed to visit the territory even during Christmas holidays, Nikolic said that it was not his shame.
The fact that at this moment, even during the most joyful Christian holidays, I am not permitted to enter the territory of Kosovo, which is run by the UN, the EU and the international forces led by NATO, is not my shame, said Nikolic.
Shame on those who are unable to conduct their internationally recognized mandates in the way they should, he added.
Nevertheless, I am confident I will have the opportunity to visit my people and the threatened Serbian churches and monasteries in Kosovo-Metohija soon, the Serbian president said.
