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Belgrade, 05. 03. 2010.
CONTENT:
CVETKOVIC AND ROMPUY DISCUSS EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATIONS
BRUSSELS, March 5 (Tanjug) - Prime Minister Cvetkovic began his visit to Brussels by talks with EC President Herman van Rompuy.Cvetkovic is the first Serbian official who met with Rompuy since he assumed the duty of European Council president on Dec 1 last year. The main topic of the meeting will be Serbia's next steps in the European integration process and other important issues, which the Serbian prime minister will also discuss with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and his Belgian counterpart Yves Leterme. Cvetkovic and Leterme will discuss the improvement of all forms of bilateral cooperation, and an agreement on international road transport between the Serbian and Belgian governments will be signed on the occasion. The prime ministers of Serbia and Belgium are also expeced to discuss the issue of the increasing number Serbian citizens that seek asylum in Belgium.
JEREMIC'S STATEMENT IS VALID ACCORDING TO MOST MPS
BELGRADE, March 4 (Tanjug) - Most representatives of Serbian parliamentary groups said that there is nothing wrong with Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic's statement that linking Serbia's Eu integration with the Kosovo issue would be a "tragic mistake," while the LDP feels that the statement is counterproductive. Whip Branko Ruzic said that the choice is not even being put before Serbia, adding that the EU has never stated that as a prerequisite for the continuation of Serbia's Eu integration. Whip Dragan Todorovic noted that Jeremic's statement "is not only valid, but no one should have any second thoughts when it comes to Serbia's attitude towards Kosovo." Whip Vlajko Senic says that he is not aware of any EU officials putting Serbia's membership in connection with Kosovo's recognition, adding that he is convinced that Serbia will not be asked to do that. Whip Radojko Obradovic described Jeremic's statement as a sign of respect for the Constitution, order and documents adopted by the Parliament. LDP leader Jovanovic remarked that Serbia has had "too many problems because of Jeremic's counterporductive policy that causes conflict with the region and the EU and promotes values characteristic of Kostunica's former government instead of Cvetkovic's present one." Jeremic made the statement at a press conference after his meeting with Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Balasz, adding that anyone who thinks that Serbia would opt for the EU if it were forced to choose between Kosovo and the EU is mistaken.
KACIN: SERBIA NOT FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN EU & KOSOVO
BELGRADE, March 4 (Tanjug) - European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin has said that Serbia is not being forced to choose between integration in the EU and recognition of unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence. Serbian officials are raising the issue that noone else has raised, he said. As long as Serbia's authorities do not witdraw the application for EU membership, it means that Serbia and its people want to join the EU, he told Deutsche Welle. Serbian Foreign Minister Jeremic said during his visit to Budapest that linking Serbia's Eu perspective to the problem of Kosovo would be a tragic mistake, and that if it had to choose between the EU and Kosovo, Serbia would not choose the EU.
BRINGEUS: SWEDEN STRONGLY SUPPORTS VISA LIBERALIZATION
BELGRADE, March 4 (Tanjug) - Swedish ambassador to Serbia Krister Bringeus has told that his country, like Belgium, is facing a sudden increase in the number of asylum seekers from Serbia. Sweden is confident that the Belgrade authorities will cooperate in preventing a possible abuse of visa liberalization, he said. Sweden will not allow any abuse of visa liberalization, which it supports fully, he said. The Swedish authorities have received a high number of requests for asylum from Serbia's citizens over the past few months, he said. In Feb only, over 300 Serbia's citizens requested asylum in Sweden, while the number for the whole 2009 was 580, he said. Sweden is vey concerned over this drastic increase in the number of asylum seekers so soon after visa liberalization, Bringeus said. Another cause for concern is that these people were misled into believing that they can get asylum in Sweden, which is not true, he said. The Swedish authorities are in close contact with their Serbian counterparts and are convinced they will cooperate in halting the abuse, he said. Sweden has no social program for families from Serbia and these people will be returned to Serbia in keeping with the agreement on readmission, as has been happening for the past two weeks.
BELGIUM STARTS RETURNING ASYLUM SEEKERS
BELGRADE, March 5 (Tanjug) - Belgian authorities will start returning to their home countries the Serbian and Macedonian citizens who have sought political asylum in Belgium, Belgian Ambassador to Serbia Denise de Hauwere has announced. The first return will be organized on March 10, when buses with people who sought political asylum in Belgium will depart for Serbia, followed by translators and members of the Belgian Immigration Service, and Belgium will bear the costs of the journey, Hauwerer told Radio Free Europe. The number of asylum seekers from Serbia at the beginning of 2010 was bigger than in the whole 2009, and only in February a total of 330 citizens from southern Serbia, mostly Albanians and Roma people, sought political asylum in Belgium. In the first days of March around 20 people a day requested the status. The Belgian ambassador pointed out that this is a great problem for Belgium, and added that it has been decided to respond to the requests by a speedy procedure. There are no conditions for seeking political asylum, since Serbia is not in war, and no one has been persecuted over ethnic or religious reasons explaining that there are no conditions for obtaining economic asylum since it does not exist as a category.
SERBIA – REGION
PAHOR: MEETING WITH TADIC AND KOSOR WILL BE SOMETHING SPECIAL
LJUBLJANA, March 5 (Tanjug) - Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor expressed his expectations in Ljubljana that Friday's meeting with Serbian President Tadic and Croatian Prime Minister Kosor in the Slovenian town of Ptuj will be something special. Commenting on the meeting of the three statesmen, Pahor said that they will use the occasion to discuss current relations in this part of Europe, as well as opportunities for economic cooperation between the three countries. Pahor expressed satisfaction with the positive atmosphere in Ljubljana, Zagreb and Belgrade regarding the meeting's importance for the safety and wellbeing of the three countries' citizens, Press Agency STA reported. Today's meeting will be dedicated to preparations for the regional conference on the Western Balkan countries' EU integration, which will be held at the Brdo Castle near Kranj, Slovenia, on March 20. Slovenia, Croatia, the Council of Europe and the EC are co-organizing the conference.
AMBASSADOR VUKICEVIC: SERBIA WANTS BETTER RELATIONS WITH CROATIA
ZAGREB, March 4 (Tanjug) - Chairman of the Croatian Assembly Foreign Policy Committee Frano Matusic received Serbian Ambassador to Croatia Stanimir Vukicevic, who expressed his hope that the two countries will improve their relations during his mandate. Vukicevic stated that the visit of the Serbian Parliamentary Group of Friendship, which was received at the highest state level in Croatia, opened a new chapter in the relations of the two countries. The ambassador emphasized that Croatia's wish and readiness to help Serbia on its European pathway are obvious, and added that Serbia welcomes that and wants to have good relations with Croatia. "We want this region to become recognizable by cooperation, and not by conflicts," Vukicevic stressed, and pointed out that Serbia wants Croatia to enter the EU as soon as possible, since this will strengthen the European prospects of Serbia. He expressed satisfaction with the recent visit of the Serbian Parliamentary group of Friendship with Croatia to the Croatian Parliament, as well as with the meeting between Croatian parliament speaker Luka Bebic and Serbian parliament speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, during which they scheduled a visit of a mixed group of Croatian MPs to the National Assembly of Serbia. Matusic pointed out that the cooperation between Croatia and Serbia has been intensified recently, especially on the parliamentary level. "The forthcoming visit of the mixed group of Croatian MPs to the Serbian parliament will be another step towards improvement of relations," Matusic said, and added that Croatia is ready to help Serbia on its EU path. Both officials evaluated that the whole region deserves peace at last, as well as accession to the EU which would make possible for the potentials of mutual cooperation.
DACIC: REGIONAL COOPERATION NEEDED TO FIGHT ORGANIZED CRIME
BELGRADE, TIRANA, March 4 (Tanjug) - Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic addressed a conference in Tirana, saying that good cooperation between all the ministries, prosecutors' offices and courts in the region is needed to fight organized crime successfully, the Serbian Ministry of Interior has announced. According to the announcement, Dacic used his welcome speech at the opening of the 7th annual ministerial conference on border security in southeastern Europe to point out the necessity of strong cooperation. "We need strong cooperation, and I am certain that regardless of our political differences, we should be one step ahead in cooperation and ensure the safety of the region," said Dacic. The conference was opened by Albania's Minister of Interior Lulzim Basha, who noted that the aim is to have open borders that could be crossed by anyone, but which would also be controlled, denying access to international criminals. The conference, held under the patronage of Spain's presidency over the EU, is attended by ministers from the region and representatives of the EC, OSCE, Conflict Prevention Centre and other international organizations. The topics for the conference are integrated border administration, achieved progress in border security in 2009, implementation of the 2010 and 2011 strategy, overview of the improvements in border security in southeastern Europe during 2009 and suggestions on how to expand operational cooperation that should be implemented by 2011.
DACIC: COOPERATION NECESSARY TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING
TIRANA, March 5 (Tanjug) - Deputy Prime Minister Dacic noted the necessity of cooperation between police services in the region and security bodies in the world on order to prevent illegal drug trafficking. "All reports, including the report of U.S. security services, say that the Balkans is a major transit area, and that almost 80 percent of all heroin which comes to Europe from Afghanistan crosses this territory," Dacic said at the Ministerial Conference on Cooperation in the Field of Border Security in Southeast Europe. Dacic pointed out that in the last few years many criminal groups from the region have been operating in Latin America and participating in cocaine trafficking, "which means we need to cooperate, not only in the region, but also with the top world services to fight this common evil." Dacic reminded that the ministerial conference is held annually in cooperation with the Geneva Center for Democratic Control of Armed Forces and under the wing of the presiding member of the European Union, which is currently Spain. "It is important to point out once again that the goal of all countries in the region should be to make our borders completely open for goods and people, but completely closed for crime," Dacic said, the Serbian Interior Ministry released.
SERBIA
DJELIC: BILLS AIMED AT STOPPING BRAIN DRAIN
BELGRADE, March 5 (Tanjug) - Minister for Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic has said that the set of bills in the field of science and intellectual property, which will be discussed at the parliament's session, are aimed at developing the scientific system, as well as stopping brain drain in Serbia. Explaining the bills to Serbian MPs, Djelic said that this is a very important set of bills which, in the moment of economic crisis, shows the decisiveness of Serbia to line up with highly developed countries. He pointed out that Serbia has to undertake serious steps in order to find its place in the field, adding that this is a great challenge, but a possible one, and that investing in people is the only chance for Serbia to become a country of prosperity. According to him, this is why the government adopted the Strategy of scientific and technological development last week, which determines national priorities in the next five years. The priorities, as he explained, are development of biomedicine, new technologies, environmental protection and fight against climate changes, energy and energetic efficiency, agriculture and food, information and communication technologies, improvement of issuing state decisions and affirmation of national identity.
WARLICK: US-SERBIA RELATIONS ARE VERY POSITIVE
BELGRADE, March 5 (Tanjug) - US Ambassador to Serbia Mary Warlick stated that the relations between the US and Serbia are very positive and that the US strongly supports Serbia's EU accession, adding that Serbia can play a very important role in the region. My task is to follow the new tone that the US Vice President Joseph Biden set during his last year visit and develop new chapter in our relations, Warlick said daily Blic. She pointed out that in spite of differences of opinion, the US has new direction in relations with Serbia and wants to strengthen them. The US's very voluminous support program of USD 50 millions per year is chiefly aimed to support reforms that shall improve integration by Serbia with the EU as well as with the global institutions such as the WTO, Warlick said. The US are seeking ways to strengthen business dimension of our relations as much as possible but also that the citizens of Serbia and the USA acquaint with one another better, she added. We think it is in the interest of Serbia as well as other countries in the region, that they support one another in order to achieve their mutual goal of joining the EU and the Euro-Atlantic organizations, she underscored. When asked about how Kosovo issue is presently reflected on the relations between Serbia and the USA, she reiterated Vice-President Biden's statement - we agreed to disagree on the issue. We have a very strong stance when independence and sovereignty of Kosovo are concerned and we believe that the status issue has been solved Warlick stressed. We would like that Serbia finds a way to move forward in relations with Kosovo and to focus on everyday matters, such as the customs, judiciary, electricity, in order to improve the quality of life of all Kosovo inhabitants, she added.
SERBIAN RED CROSS COLLECTS RSD 12 MILLION FOR AID TO HAITI
BELGRADE, March 4 (Tanjug) - The Serbian Red Cross has collected RSD 12 mill for aid to earthquake victims in Haiti. The funds will be used to provide accommodation and basic health care, the Red Cross said. The funds have come from donations from the Serbian government, Belgrade City Assembly, citizens and companies, the Red Cross said. According to latest figures, over 220,000 people were killed in the devastating earthquake which hit the Caribbean country in January. The International Red Cross and its 430 special teams are still providing assistance to earthquake victims in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas.
SLOVENIAN STATE SECRETARY MEETS WITH SLOVENIANS IN SERBIA
LJUBLJANA, BELGRADE, March 5 (Tanjug) - State Secretary with the Office for Slovenians Abroad Boris Jesic met in Belgrade with representatives of the Slovenian community in Serbia, who acquainted him with their efforts to establish a Slovenian ethnic minority council, Slovenian Agency STA reported.Jesic was also introduced to the work of ethnic Slovenian associations across Serbia and the problems they encounter, primarily in financing, Jesic told. Providing the Slovenians in Serbia with the opportunity to learn their mother tongue and follow Slovenian-language media was also discussed at the meeting. Representatives of Slovenian associations expressed the wish to establish closer ties with the homeland and certain Slovenian cities.Jesic also attended a gathering at the Slovenian business club in Serbia, which plays an important role in cooperation between two countries,.
SERBIA – ECONOMY
TADIC NOT INVOLVED IN TELEKOM SALE
BELGRADE, March 4 (Tanjug) - President Boris Tadic did not negotiate the sale of the public company Telekom Srbija during a recent visit to Berlin, Tanjug learned at his office. The president was not involved in Telekom sale, the office said, commenting on the claims of the weekly NIN that Tadic has reached an agreement on the sale of the company. Telekom Srbija refuted all claims that it was involved in any activities which could lead to the sale of the company. Only preparatory activities related to the implementation of the law on free distribution of shares to the citizens, and current and former employees, as well as the preparatory activities related to the transfer of shares from the public company PTT Srbija to the state, are underway, Telekom said.
SERBIAN AND ALGERIAN COMPANIES TO FORM CONSORTIUMS
ALGEIRS, March 4 (Tanjug) - Serbian and Algerian companies will form consortiums in the future, which will give them an advantage when competing for infrastructure projects in Algeria, Deputy Prime Minister Dinkic and Algeria's Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia have agreed. The meeting, which was also attended by Defence Minister Sutanovac, was also used to agree on the details of an export contract for the Serbian defence industry, which will be the largest in 2010. Dinkic stressed that the Algerian market presents an opportunity for Serbian building design and construction companies, as well as for the food industry, the Ministry of Economy announced."Algeria is in the process of adopting a five-year plan, and it will invest as much as USD 300 billion in infrastructure development," said Dinkic, adding that Serbian companies, which have so far been involved in lesser projects, could get far bigger jobs, worth hundreds of millions of euros, if they form consortiums with Algerian companies. Dinkic had a meeting with Algeria's health minister as well and they agreed for Serbian pharmaceutical companies to be granted special status within that country, facilitating their operation, and that an invitation be sent to Serbian doctors to come to Algeria and pass their knowledge to their colleagues there, for which Algeria would provide significant funds. Dinkic met with five other Algerian ministers during his three-day visit to Algeria, where he heads a Serbian government and bussiness delegation.
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