J. Joksimović: Brussels – a good opportunity for Vučić to reiterate Serbia's views

February 16 2020 | Munich

J. Joksimović: Brussels – a good opportunity for Vučić to reiterate Serbia's views

Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has assessed that the presence of the Serbian delegation at the Munich Security Conference this year was extremely noticeable and significant, adding that, tonight, at an informal dinner for Western Balkans leaders in Brussels organized by President of the European Council Charles Michel, President Aleksandar Vučić will once again have the opportunity to clearly present Serbia's expectations, questions and views, but also to hear what others in the region and Serbia’s partners from the EU have to say.
On the final day of the Munich Security Conference, Joksimović said to the press that the Serbian delegation, composed of President Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Ana Brnabić and herself, had used the conference in the best possible way, in an important moment for Europe and for the world, but also for the region and for Serbia.

In that regard, she has particularly highlighted the first day of the conference – Friday, when President Vučić was in Munich, where he had numerous bilateral meetings, as well as a panel on security in the Western Balkans.

According to Joksimović, there was a lot of talk about that panel later on. "The panel was important for presenting our views, but also for hearing what others think, as well as what our partners from the EU think," Joksimović has said.

Yesterday, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić and Minister Jadranka Joksimović had numerous activities and bilateral meetings, and they also attended a dinner organised within the Munich Security Conference by Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Söder.
Joksimović has said that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was present at the dinner, despite her not attending the Munich Security Conference, and that she gave a special speech on this occasion. 

Also attending the dinner were Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and numerous foreign affairs ministers.

"We used the dinner to further discuss all the issues that are important for our European path as well as for the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue," Joksimović has said, stressing that, in discussions on the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, she always emphasizes that 100% import taxes on goods from Central Serbia must be abolished first in order to give Belgrade a reason to consider returning to the dialogue.

President Aleksandar Vučić will attend an informal dinner for the Western Balkans leaders, which will be organised in Brussels tonight and hosted by European Council President Charles Michel.

Joksimović has said that, aside from the Western Balkan leaders, this dinner, which "is a follow up on the Munich Security Conference", will be attended by all those who were at the last night’s dinner in Munich – Ursula von der Leyen, EU High Representative Josep Borrell, as well as Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, since Croatia is currently holding the EU Council presidency.

"Tonight, President Vučić will have the opportunity to clearly state our expectations, questions and views, but also to hear out with utmost interest and patience what others in the region have to say, as well as what our partners from the EU have to say," Joksimović has said.

According to her, the past week has been an intensive week, since it is very important that Serbian representatives are at all times present where Serbia is being discussed.

She has said that she has heard that some Serbian citizens think that such trips are an opportunity for politicians to get photographed, adding that there are also politicians in Belgrade who characterise the participation of Serbian officials at such events as opportunities to get something done in secret, behind the curtain.

"No, we have serious, responsible, top level discussions here, primarily promoting and protecting our interests, but also aware that we need to talk, to hear others out, to learn about the plans and expectations of others, and at the same time to be able to plan better, and to better promote our interests," stressed Minister Joksimović.
She has said that their presence in Munich was very noticeable and of great importance, and that, tonight, President Vučić will present Serbia’s positions in the best possible way, as always and as he did in Munich.
"With regard to foreign policy and European integration, we are doing everything in our power. I am not overly optimistic, but I am not pessimistic either. The EU also has to resolve some of its issues, its dilemmas, but we do our part of the work and, most importantly, our citizens can feel the progress; however, in order to accelerate this, we need to work with all our partners at the international level, to preserve peace and stability, and to follow the trends of global politics," Joksimović has said.


She has also stated that Serbia should keep up with the circumstances and not allow them to overtake and surprise it. "We should not lag behind the circumstances and allow them to overtake us, but we should perhaps also meet some challenges head-on, because in this way we will be able to solve them more successfully, primarily in the interest of our citizens," Joksimović has concluded.

Source: Tanjug