No pressure from USA to join NATO

Belgrade, March, 10 2010 (Source: Tanjug) - Serbian Army (VS) CoGS Lt.-Gen. Miloje Miletić says there is no pressure from the U.S. to change Serbia's view on NATO and join that organization. Miletić described his recent visit to the U.S. as very positive. Miletić told B92 TV on Monday evening that the American officials he met with are aware that the Serbian Parliament has adopted a resolution on military neutrality and that the country has opted to cooperate with NATO through the Partnership for Peace program. The Serbian Army chief stated that his Hungarian counterpart was also there during the visit, and that the three sides discussed the possibilities of trilateral cooperation, which would involve improving military capabilities.
According to Miletić, they agreed that the cooperation would include crisis response planning, air force and peace operations, as well as the professional development of officers. Speaking about Kosovo, he said that the province remains the greatest security risk for Serbia and in the region. "The problem does not require a military engagement, but the situation is a cause for concern which requires a solution," said Miletić. Instability in Kosovo can be transferred to the region, especially southern Serbia, northern Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro, he said. Asked whether he was satisfied with cooperation with KFOR, Miletić said he was, although it abandoned the framework of neutrality through some of its decisions regarding implementation of Ahtisaari's plan and its decision to take part in forming the Kosovo Security Forces. "This is one of the reasons why the cooperation between the Serbian Army and KFOR was somewhat reduced, to a technical level," he said.

Any attempt at abusing Schengen regime will be punished

Belgrade, March 04, 2010 (Serbia Today) – Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic announced on Monday punishments and the firm implementation of the Readmission Agreement for all those who abuse or attempt to abuse the liberal Belgian law regarding political asylum. Appearing in the Kaziprst show on RTV B92, Djelic stressed that anyone who abuses the Schengen regime jeopardizes the freedom of all Serbian citizens, warning that those who are repatriated on the basis of the Readmission Agreement will face even more difficulties with every future attempt to enter the Schengen countries. He stated that according to current data, around 300 persons made an organized attempt to abuse the liberal Belgian law regarding political asylum. The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the visa-free regime for Serbian citizens will not be jeopardized because of Belgium’s objections regarding an increased number of asylum seekers from southern Serbia, reiterating that all of them will be repatriated. Speaking on this week’s visit of French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Djelic said that they discussed Serbia's EU integration, economic cooperation as well as employment visas for Serbian citizens in EU countries. Djelic reiterated that Serbia is an important unit of stability in the Western Balkans and has powerful arguments in defending its own integrity. Djelic also added that Serbia’s arguments for finding a compromised solution for the southern province are becoming stronger.

More active engagement of OSCE high commissioner on national minorities needed in Kosovo

Belgrade, March 04, 2010 (Serbia Today) – Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Goran Bogdanovic said during the talks with OSCE High Commissioner on national minorities Knut Vollebeak that he expressed appreciation for his activities in the field of protection of human rights and the building of trust between different ethnic communities in Kosovo-Metohija. Bogdanovic said that the Serbian side believes that it is of high importance that the activities of the OSCE high commissioner are in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and in an unbiased framework in relation to the province’s status. The Minister for Kosovo-Metohija reminded him of the difficulties with which all non-Albanian communities in Kosovo-Metohija are faced. He appealed to the active engagement of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. Vollebaek expressed the hope that the situation of all minority communities in Kosovo-Metohija will improve. He especially pointed to specific activities in providing adequate education. Bogdanovic and Vollebaek expressed their willingness to invest joint efforts in improving the status of non-Albanian communities in Kosovo-Metohija, the statement added.

Kouchner says “Independence of Kosovo irreversible”

Pristina, March 03, 2010 (Serbia Today) – During his visit to Pristina, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in Priština that "Kosovo independence is irreversible as far as France is concerned". Kouchner was received like an old friend by the Kosovo Albanian political elite and was given the opportunity to address the assembly in Priština, B 92 reporters. In his address, he declared that "Kosovo independence represents a historic event which cannot be stopped or changed". He encouraged Kosovo leaders to begin a dialog with Serbia, "because that is the only path that leads to the EU". "I don't know the hour or date, but I know that one day, Kosovo and Serbia will be in the European Union, as independent and friendly countries. It would be an illusion to think that we can move towards Europe while not allowing a neighboring country to go the same route," he said. Kouchner commended the recent local elections in Kosovo, stating that they "show that Serbs in Kosovo are ready to offer an active role in their futures in Kosovo". "A lot of time has passed since my last visit in April 2007, and this route can be described with one word: independence. In the name of France, I wish to say that your independence is not being questioned, it is a historical event and nothing can change history, which is something everyone should accept," Kouchner said. Kosovo Albanian leaders said that "France played a large role in offering help after the conflicts and contributing to Kosovo's independence". Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said that "Kosovo is dedicated to good neighborly relations with Serbia". "It is in the interest of our stability, regional cooperation and our European perspective, to leave the past with Serbia behind. The status question has ended and I believe that the whole world knows this," Thaci said. During the second day of his Kosovo visit, Kouchner met with senior officials of the international community in Priština, after which he visited the newly-formed Serb municipality of Gračanica.

Dacic to visit Norway

Belgrade, March 02, 2010 (Serbia Today) – First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic will be in Norway on 2 and 3 March. On the first day of the visit Minister Dacic will meet with Minister of Justice Knut Sturberget, to discuss cooperation in the fight against organized crime and corruption. Afterwards, he will meet with Speaker of the Norwegian parliament Dag Terje Andersen. On the second day Dacic will visit the National Police Directorate and talk with Director Ingellin Kilengreen about the cooperation between Serbian and Norwegian police forces and police reform. Dacic will conclude his visit to Norway with a tour of the National Criminal Investigation Service.

“Kosovo is Serbia”, says hacked Sejdui web page

Pristina, March 02, 2010 (Source: Tanjug) - Serbian hackers attacked the website of Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, and left the message “Kosovo is Serbia”, Sejdiu's cabinet said in a statement. According to this, the attack was performed by the so-called Serbian hackers group around midnight on Sunday. In addition to the message, the hackers also put up Serbian state symbols on the website. The Sejdiu's cabinet is analyzing how the attack was performed and it is doing everything to make the website operational again as soon as possible, said the statement. The website is currently offline.

Bernard Kouchner in Belgrade

Belgrade, March 02, 2010 (Source: B 92, Tanjug) - French FM Bernard Kouchner is in Belgrade, where he has met with President Boris Tadić, and will also talk with Deputy PM Božidar Đelić, and FM Vuk Jeremić. Ahead of the meetings today, he visited the grave of former Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić, assassinated in 2003.Tadić and Kouchner discussed the issue of bilateral relations, continuation of Serbia's European integration and Kosovo and Metohija, the president's cabinet released in a statement. "President Tadić underlined that France strongly supports Serbia's membership in the European Union,", the statement reads. The collocutors also agreed that no additional conditions will be imposed on Serbia regarding its EU membership. According to this, Tadić said that Serbia expects that the opinion of the International Court of Justice (on Kosovo independence) will pave the way for the reaching of a sustainable and compromise solution for Kosovo. The negotiations on the agreement on strategic partnership between France and Serbia have been successfully completed and the document will be signed during a future visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Serbia. The meeting between Tadić and Kouchner was also attended by Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, the statement said. Ahead of the meeting, the French foreign ministry stated that "despite the differences between Serbia and Kosovo, there are fields in which the two countries can and must reach agreements, especially in relation to question regarding police, legislature and customs, with the support of the EULEX mission". On Sunday, AFP reported that Kouchner intends to call for reconciliation "of Serbia with Kosovo". In a statement to reporters who were with him on the plane from Paris, he said that his country "supports Serbia's EU membership and a positive development of relations between Serbia and Kosovo". "Serbs should not complicate the already sufficiently complicated situation," Kouchner said, in reference to the ethnic Albanians' unilaterally declared independence, which Belgrade rejects. He also stated that "the EU will have to make its stance on Serbia's membership unanimously". 22 out of 27 EU member-states have recognized the proclamation. Kouchner, meanwhile, says he considers himself "a friend" of both Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo. After Belgrade, he will travel to the province, to meet with Kosovo officials in Priština, and he will also tour the Serbian monastery of Gračanica, it was reported on Sunday. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told B92 in an exclusive interview that "relations with Kosovo must be simpler and based on friendship". These relations must be less tense, because that will make easier Serbia’s future in the EU, he said. “President Sarkozy and I are not asking Serbia to recognize Kosovo, but to begin the process of dialogue, work, relaxation, and the normalization of relations,” Kouchner said. “There are many people among the 27 (EU) member-states that do not agree with new Union enlargement. We have already gained experience with one divided country, Cyprus, and we are not ready to repeat that." "I am not saying that there are conditions or prerequisites to solve the Kosovo problem, and in Kosovo, to solve the problem with Serbia, no, but there must be an atmosphere that will enable everything to be regulated once Serbia becomes an EU member-state,” Kouchner told B92. Ahead of the meetings today, he visited the grave of former Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić, assassinated in 2003. Tadić and Kouchner discussed the issue of bilateral relations, continuation of Serbia's European integration and Kosovo and Metohija, the president's cabinet released in a statement. President Tadić underlined that France strongly supports Serbia's membership in the European Union,", the statement reads. The collocutors also agreed that no additional conditions will be imposed on Serbia regarding its EU membership. According to this, Tadić said that Serbia expects that the opinion of the International Court of Justice (on Kosovo independence) will pave the way for the reaching of a sustainable and compromise solution for Kosovo. The negotiations on the agreement on strategic partnership between France and Serbia have been successfully completed and the document will be signed during a future visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Serbia. The meeting between Tadić and Kouchner was also attended by Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, the statement said. Ahead of the meeting, the French foreign ministry stated that "despite the differences between Serbia and Kosovo, there are fields in which the two countries can and must reach agreements, especially in relation to question regarding police, legislature and customs, with the support of the EULEX mission". On Sunday, AFP reported that Kouchner intends to call for reconciliation "of Serbia with Kosovo". In a statement to reporters who were with him on the plane from Paris, he said that his country "supports Serbia's EU membership and a positive development of relations between Serbia and Kosovo". "Serbs should not complicate the already sufficiently complicated situation," Kouchner said, in reference to the ethnic Albanians' unilaterally declared independence, which Belgrade rejects. He also stated that "the EU will have to make its stance on Serbia's membership unanimously". 22 out of 27 EU member-states have recognized the proclamation. Kouchner, meanwhile, says he considers himself "a friend" of both Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo. After Belgrade, he will travel to the province, to meet with Kosovo officials in Priština, and he will also tour the Serbian monastery of Gračanica, it was reported on Sunday. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner told B92 in an exclusive interview that "relations with Kosovo must be simpler and based on friendship". These relations must be less tense, because that will make easier Serbia’s future in the EU, he said. “President Sarkozy and I are not asking Serbia to recognize Kosovo, but to begin the process of dialogue, work, relaxation, and the normalization of relations,” Kouchner said. “There are many people among the 27 (EU) member-states that do not agree with new Union enlargement. We have already gained experience with one divided country, Cyprus, and we are not ready to repeat that. "I am not saying that there are conditions or prerequisites to solve the Kosovo problem, and in Kosovo, to solve the problem with Serbia, no, but there must be an atmosphere that will enable everything to be regulated once Serbia becomes an EU member-state,” Kouchner told B92. Political analyst Predrag Simić that Kouchner is expected to encourage cooperation between Serbia and EULEX during his Belgrade visit. “Because of the fact that this is the first visit of a French foreign minister since July 2007 –the first since Kosovo’s proclamation – it can be said that the goal of the visit is to normalize and further develop relations between Belgrade and Paris,” Simić said. He believes that the key topic will be Kosovo and the role of EULEX. “There has been a lot of speculation that France is unsatisfied with Belgrade’s stance towards EULEX and the announcements that Belgrade could be initiating a new action before the UN Security Council after the International Court of Justice gives its opinion on (the legality of) Kosovo’s (unilateral) independence proclamation,” he said. “I think that the message is clear, that Kosovo is a done deal for France and that Belgrade is expected, not to recognize Kosovo, but to cooperate with EULEX and help normalize the situation in Kosovo. This will probably also include the controversial plan of Pieter Feith, which received negative reactions from Serbs in Kosovo and the government in Belgrade,” Simić said.
France’s support for European integration is not being questioned, Simić said, but there is a possibility that France will ask Serbia to reformulate its stances regarding Kosovo on the road to EU integration. Simić said that be believes that Kouchner’s visit represents an announcement of the visit of President Nikola Sarkozy, which France has been announcing over the last two years. Simić said that besides Kosovo and EU integration, there are other open questions between Paris and Belgrade. One such question is the French investments which have stagnated, and trade cooperation between the two countries, which was successfully developing until 2007, especially when it comes to Serbia’s exports to France.