Degert: Germany's seven points - just one opinion
Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert believes that the statement by German parliamentarian Andreas Schockenhoff about seven conditions for Serbia is just one opinion, which represents the stand of the ruling party in the German parliament, but the final decision on Serbia's EU entry talks will be delivered by EU heads of state and government.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Saturday, September 15, 2012
The decision will be delivered in that way, and the European Commission is the one to give a recommendation, but the opinions of national parliaments are also taken into account, Degert told reporters.
I do not know which conditions will remain, he said, adding that Belgrade and Pristina should engage in the dialogue, and agree, on their own, what kind of agreement they would like to reach.
Whether the dialogue would yield some more agreements, that depends on them, Degert said.
He added that at the end of the month, representatives of Belgrade and Pristina would have meetings and voiced hope that both sides would engage in the dialogue.
Andreas Schockenhoff, a member of Bundestag and senior representative of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, said in Belgrade on Thursday that before the start of the accession talks, Germany expects Serbia to sign with Kosovo a joint and legally binding statement on mutual relations, which would be implemented by the end of the entry talks.
Germany also expects the implementation of agreements reached so far, but also the agreement on the continuation of the dialogue even beyond the planned topics, such as energy and telecommunications.
Moreover, Germany expects the start of the abolishment of parallel structures in the security apparatus, and administration in northern Kosovo, and cancellation of their financing.
Berlin wants Belgrade to exert a continuous influence on Serbs in the north of Kosovo to actively cooperate with EULEX and KFOR.
Germany also expects that the action plan agreed with the EU would be fully met, and realized, with a special emphasis on the continuation and implementation of the launched judicial reforms, and the fight against corruption at all levels.
Belgrade is also expected to make visible progress in resolving and prosecuting perpetrators in connection with the arson in the German embassy premises in Belgrade in February 2008, after Berlin recognized the independence of Kosovo; and give clear signals aimed at further reconciliation in the region.
