Grubjesic: Belgrade to be constructive in dialogue

"We entered into the negotiations with a view to reaching an agreement that is sustainable and that can be implemented, and as long as there is a chance for such a thing, we will be constructive and flexible. If Pristina behaves the same as Belgrade, I believe that we will reach an agreement on April 2 (when the next round of the dialogue will take place)," Grubjesic said in an interview for Belgrade-based daily. Asked about the position of the national leadership and whether Serbia will be ready for new concessions regarding its most important request - for the Serb community to manage the judiciary, police and spatial planning - Grubjesic pointed out that the community of Serb municipalities has to have accurate executive powers. Otherwise, it makes no sense to form such a community, she added. "We do not seek anything that is not in accordance with European principles of decentralization," Grubjesic said. The deputy prime minister stressed that obtaining a date for the start of the EU accession talks depends solely on the results of the dialogue with Pristina, adding that the Serbian citizens also deserve to get a get "because they have been supporting Serbia's European path patiently and consistently, despite all the difficulties and trials we went through." Commenting on the list comprising seven requests for getting the date delivered by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the ruling party in Germany, Grubjesic said she is not sure if anyone except the European Commission and the European Council is entitled to impose conditions for obtaining the date. "We had serious and open talks with CDU MPs on several occasions, and we informed them in detail on each of the seven requests," she noted. Grubjesic also pointed out that Serbia is aware that Bundestag's desicion might be crucial for its further EU path. Members of the German parliamentary delegation announced on March 19 at the end of their two-day visit to Serbia that before the EU opens the entry talks with Belgrade and Pristina, the two sides should state in a legally binding way that they would normalize relations. The clearly expressed will for a legally binding normalization of the relations between Serbia and Kosovo is the key one out of the seven points that the Bundestag deems necessary for giving its approval for Serbia to get a starting date for EU accession talks in June. As regards other conditions, the German parliamentarians underlined the need for concrete agreements aimed at disbanding parallel structures in northern Kosovo, the creation of new ones that would also be accepted by the Serb population, transparent ways of receiving financial assistance from Serbia. They also noted that Belgrade needs to put in further efforts to exercise an influence on Serbs in northern Kosovo to accept the EU Mission so that EULEX could have the freedom of movement, and with which they could cooperate on probes into bomb attacks. The German parliamentarians noted that there is a clear will to carry out a comprehensive judiciary reform, that the strategy has been drafted, so added efforts should be invested in that field. Regarding the arson attack on the German Embassy in Belgrade during the protests against the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija, they said that even five years after the incident, the authorities have not found those behind that attack, not even an indictment has been issued. Concerning reconciliation in the region, they said that even after the change of the government, the efforts are being invested in establishing contacts with neighbors and fostering good neighborly relations.