EU - Serbia-Montenegro to begin negotiations

Belgrade, Oct 10, 2005 – A formal session was held today at Belgrade’s Federation Palace marking the beginning of talks between the EU and Serbia-Montenegro on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), which is the first step towards Serbia-Montenegro’s EU integration.

The session was attended by EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, President of the state union of Serbia-Montenegro Svetozar Marovic, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and British Ambassador to Serbia-Montenegro David Gowen, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency.


On this occasion, Kostunica said that the SAA is “equal in importance and value as a corner stone in an edifice of overall reforms, which is still being built”.


“There are moments and events of immense significance and value to the country, its people and all our citizens. Good news has been sent to the world from Belgrade today, and to the citizens of Serbia-Montenegro. It says that we are indeed closer to the European Union, closer to our goal and values we believed in and worked for all these years”, the Serbian Prime Minister said.


He said he sees this day as “an important outcome of our joint work to order our country properly and lead it into the European Union”.


“All of us in Serbia are very well aware of our goal and we know that we are going down a safe road”, Kostunica said, adding that Serbia will not regret making efforts to improve the life standard of its citizens, restore economy, bring order into its legislature and show the world that Serbia is in Europe and that it feels at home there.


“The good news and the message we are sending from Belgrade together today, which we are certain is a principled one, is that all of us in the region must respect the universally accepted principles and values, as is the case everywhere in Europe, which means we must accept joint responsibility for the stability of our region. This primarily implies the sanctity of internationally acknowledged state borders”, Kostunica stressed.


He pointed out that the Serbian government is well prepared for the beginning of talks, and that, above all, it is important that everyone in the state union of Serbia-Montenegro entirely devote themselves to their tasks.


“The chance is here and we must not let it slip, but show that we are truly dedicated to European integration for the sake of our citizens’ future, regional peace and stability, and our country’s overall progress”, said Kostunica.


Serbian culture and traditions are indeed deeply European and Serbia understands Europe and its values and accepts them as its own. Serbia has contributed in the past to the development of Europe and to a common future and will continue to do so, concluded the Prime Minister.


President of the state union of Serbia-Montenegro Svetozar Marovic said that the beginning of talks on joining the EU is an important and auspicious event that the federation, its members and all citizens have long been waiting for.


Serbia-Montenegro and the negotiating teams are ready for the beginning of talks, said Marovic adding that there is strong determination to leave nothing undone in the forthcoming period in order to make sure the talks are successful, since it is in the interest of the country and its European future.


He said that no one in Serbia-Montenegro has the right to believe that progress can be made without fulfilling each and every obligation to the Hague tribunal. He also said he is pleased that Serbia-Montenegro and its member states have reached agreement on this issue.


Above all, said Marovic, the issue of General Ratko Mladic has to be resolved in the shortest possible period, since that is in the interest of Serbia-Montenegro and its journey towards Europe.


European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said that today’s announcement of the beginning of talks on the SAA marks a new stage of relations between the EU and Serbia-Montenegro.


He said that the SAA will deepen the ties and create contractual relations between the EU and Serbia-Montenegro.


Rehn said that the upcoming year brings the challenge of facing tough political issues including possible talks on the status of Kosovo-Metohija and the future of the federation. He also said that it is in the interest of all not to let that issue hinder the talks on the SAA. He added that eventual separation of Montenegro and non-cooperation with the Hague tribunal might slow down the talks.