Greece firmly supports Serbia's date

Serbia has done everything to meet the conditions the EU set before it and "the ball is now in Europe's court," Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said Tuesday.

The next 10 days will be crucial for the decision on when to give Serbia the start date for the accession talks with the EU, and there is a series of meetings scheduled before the European Council meeting on June 28, any of which could be decisive for the outcome. ...»

Austria scored a major victory in the fight against money and document counterfeiters with the arrest of a group that forged euros, dinars and the passports of several countries, including Serbia, Austrian Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner said Wednesday in Vienna. ...»

Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Suzana Grubjesic will meet in Vienna on Thursday with Austria's Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger. ...»

The Serbian government Office for Kosovo strongly condemned the throwing of an explosive device into a schoolyard in Kosovska Mitrovica, noting the attack was designed to unsettle Serbs at the most sensitive stage of the Belgrade-Pristina talks....»

The Kosovo-based Self-Determination Movement staged a protest in Pristina on Tuesday evening against the decision of the Kosovo government to submit the Belgrade-Pristina agreement to the Kosovo parliament for ratification. ...»

Another round of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on the implementation of the April 19 agreement started in Brussels on Wednesday morning, and aside police, judiciary and elections the talks will also table the issue of electricity. ...»

European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said speculation about the date of Serbia's accession talks lacks seriousness, because Belgrade has taken major steps in the dialogue with Pristina and the European Commission is in favor of opening talks. ...»

On the second day of his visit to Serbia, Greek President Karolos Papoulias will attend the Greek-Serbian business forum, one of whose organizers is the Greek Embassy....»

Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Aleksandar Vucic conferred with Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council General Nikolai Patrushev who arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday afternoon, Tanjug learnt in the Serbian government....»

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay stated on Tuesday that Serbia has made certain progress in the human rights sector but she also called on the Serbian government to clearly define the agenda and priorities in the domain of human rights. ...»

The meeting between Belgrade and Pristina working group teams discussing the implementation of the April 19 Brussels agreement ended without a deal a little before six p.m. Tuesday and will resume Wednesday....»

Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic stated on Tuesday that Serbia expects the European Council to adopt a positive decision on the initiation of Serbia's EU accession talks at the session scheduled for June 28....»

Leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Aleksandar Vucic met with Karlheinz Kopf, the head of the parliamentary group and spokesman for the Austrian People's Party, at the SNS headquarters on Tuesday. ...»

Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday for a visit during which she would confer with Serbian officials over the forthcoming decision of the EU on the date for Serbia's accession talks and bilateral and regional cooperation. ...»

Greek President Karolos Papoulias said on Tuesday during talks with Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic that Greece will always stand by Serbia and offer it assistance in understanding and implementing European standards. ...»

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Policy Jovan Krkobabic conferred with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay on Tuesday over the problems of mentally disabled individuals and other patients. ...»

Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's first deputy prime minister and defense minister, informed on Tuesday Commander of NATO's Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) in Naples Admiral Bruce Clingan about the previously defined stances on the need for KFOR's further engagement on the creation of a safe environment for all citizens in Kosovo-Metohija....»

Famous American jazz musician George Benson will be the only act of this year's Summertime Jazz Festival, taking place in Belgrade's Sava Center on July 7, the event's organizers announced Tuesday....»

Austria is aware that the start date for the accession talks with the EU is important for Serbia, and since so much has been done, it will ask for a positive decision, head of the Austrian National Party group in the parliament Karlheinz Kopf said on Tuesday. ...»

Slovenia's Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec will pay an official visit to Belgrade on Wednesday, the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday. ...»