Nikolic-Jahjaga meeting helps build trust
European officials welcomed Wednesday's meeting between the presidents of Serbia and Kosovo, Tomislav Nikolic and Atifete Jahjaga, noting it will help improve the atmosphere and build trust between Belgrade and Pristina.
(kosovocompromisestuff) Wednesday, February 06, 2013
Every step which contributes to improving the overall atmosphere and relations between the two sides is welcome and we support it. In this case, the sides have intertwines interests and we encourage the continuation of their contacts, said the office of European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele, according to Deutsche Welle radio.
European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin told Radio Free Europe in an interview that Wednesday's meeting elevates the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to the highest possible level and will certainly strengthen trust on both sides.
According to Kacin, this is particularly important at a time when Serbia is faced with other complications which must be overcome in order for Belgrade to show full commitment to the dialogue with Pristina, adding he will do everything in his power to ensure Serbia gets a date for accession talks with the EU.
Kacin hopes this will also contribute to the relaxation of relations between Serbia and Croatia. In his opinion, the meeting will be a message to Zagreb that it is finally time for Nikolic to visit Croatia.
Asked whether the EU expects the prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo, Ivica Dacic and Hasim Taci, to sign a document which would serve as a guarantee of normalization of relations and everything that is agreed in the course of the dialogue, Kacin said it is too early to say.
They have had four meetings during which they built mutual trust and respect. The two of them know best how far and how fast they can go, and I think Catherine Ashton is also in a position to judge this, said Kacin, noting that, as a rapporteur for Serbia, he would like to see them get as fast and as far as possible on this path.
European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin told Radio Free Europe in an interview that Wednesday's meeting elevates the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to the highest possible level and will certainly strengthen trust on both sides.
According to Kacin, this is particularly important at a time when Serbia is faced with other complications which must be overcome in order for Belgrade to show full commitment to the dialogue with Pristina, adding he will do everything in his power to ensure Serbia gets a date for accession talks with the EU.
Kacin hopes this will also contribute to the relaxation of relations between Serbia and Croatia. In his opinion, the meeting will be a message to Zagreb that it is finally time for Nikolic to visit Croatia.
Asked whether the EU expects the prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo, Ivica Dacic and Hasim Taci, to sign a document which would serve as a guarantee of normalization of relations and everything that is agreed in the course of the dialogue, Kacin said it is too early to say.
They have had four meetings during which they built mutual trust and respect. The two of them know best how far and how fast they can go, and I think Catherine Ashton is also in a position to judge this, said Kacin, noting that, as a rapporteur for Serbia, he would like to see them get as fast and as far as possible on this path.
