JEREMIC-EU-KOSOVO

Jeremic: Serbia will break record of EU accession speed

BELGRADE, Dec 31 (Tanjug) - Serbia has capacity and determination to beat all records in the speed of the EU accession, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stated, adding that Serbia will manage to outdo many countries that are by chance in better position than Serbia at the moment.

Jeremic said in an interview for the New Year's edition of the Belgrade-based Vecernje novosti that Serbia is willing to resume friendly relations with its neighbors, but is also ready to press charges against Croatia unless Zagreb gives up on theirs.

In view of the Kosovo-Metohija issue, Jeremic said that if new negotiations on the status of the southern province are launched, the rigidness from the earlier period may be replaced by a more flexible approach.

“The central strategic priority of the Serbian government will still be the EU accession. At the same time, we will continue to fight for the preservation of the territorial integrity with all available diplomatic and legal means and the priority will be regional relations including the protection of rights and interests of Serbs in the region. I would also underscore the importance of economic diplomacy. We will use the established political relations to encourage the growth of the Serbian economy and thus enable better life for the Serbian citizens,” Jeremic pointed out.

When asked whether Serbia could acquire the status of an EU candidate by the end of 2010, he said that we will definitely tend to realize that.

Jeremic said that Serbia's EU path will not be trouble-free and that one of the hindrances will be the conservative view of some EU member states to the EU enlargement to the West Balkans, and expressed belief that all obstacles will be dealt with.

MONTENEGRO-KOSOVO-VUJANOVIC

Vujanovic on assigning Montenegrin ambassador in Pristina

PODGORICA, Dec 31 (Tanjug) - President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic has said that he will issue a decree on the appointment of Montenegro's ambassador to Pristina when Kosovo recognizes the Montenegrin minority and guarantees it an appropriate status.

In an interview for the Podgorica daily Pobjeda, Vujanovic reiterated that it is necessary that Kosovo creates conditions for the return of non-Albanian refugees and displaced persons to Kosovo, reminding that, according to the census from 1981, there were more than 28,000 Montenegrins in Kosovo-Metohija, and that by number they were the second non-Albanian ethnic group after the Serbs.

He underscored that the Montenegro's government “is very careful”

when it comes to establishing diplomatic relations with Kosovo, pointing out that the decision on the issue will be made when the time is right for that.

The Montenegrin president underlined that he does not think that he confronts anyone in any way whatsoever with such a position.

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