Ljajic: EU integration will stop without agreement
If Belgrade and Pristina do not reach an agreement on April 2 in Brussels, Serbia's European integration will be stopped for at least two years, Deputy Prime Minister Rasim Ljajic has said.
(kosovocompromisestuff) Monday, April 01, 2013
Appearing on Pink television, Ljajic noted that because of the upcoming elections in Germany and the change in the composition of the European Commission next year, Serbia will not be on the EU's agenda.
Whether something will be accepted in the coming meeting depends on what will be offered, he said, adding that the government will certainly be in a difficult position if Serbia does not get a date for opening accession talks with the EU in June.
Ljajic expressed hope there will be some changes at the negotiating table on April 2, in light of ongoing intensive diplomatic efforts.He said the government has considered the no agreement scenario, noting that this possibility should not be seen as a catastrophe.
The offer Serbia got at the previous, seventh round of talks in Brussels is 'Ahtisaari minus,' because it is less than the Ahtisaari plan offered, said Ljajic.
"Why would we negotiate about something that was offered to us six years ago," he wondered.
Now we are looking for a compromise solution, which means that one side cannot lose everything while the other gains everything, which is where we started from, because then what is the point of EU mediation, said the deputy PM.
Whether something will be accepted in the coming meeting depends on what will be offered, he said, adding that the government will certainly be in a difficult position if Serbia does not get a date for opening accession talks with the EU in June.
Ljajic expressed hope there will be some changes at the negotiating table on April 2, in light of ongoing intensive diplomatic efforts.He said the government has considered the no agreement scenario, noting that this possibility should not be seen as a catastrophe.
The offer Serbia got at the previous, seventh round of talks in Brussels is 'Ahtisaari minus,' because it is less than the Ahtisaari plan offered, said Ljajic.
"Why would we negotiate about something that was offered to us six years ago," he wondered.
Now we are looking for a compromise solution, which means that one side cannot lose everything while the other gains everything, which is where we started from, because then what is the point of EU mediation, said the deputy PM.
