http://www.glassrbije.org/E/ The International Radio Serbia Djelic: next chance for the Interim Trade Agreement in December
16. September 2008. Serbian Deputy PM Bozidar Djelic said in Brussels after a meeting with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn that the next chance to activate the Interim Trade Agreement would be in December, after Hague Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz submits a report to the UN Security Council on Belgrade’s cooperation with that court. After the EU Council of Ministers decided not to activate the agreement with Belgrade, the entire European Commission is disappointed, but announces to Serbia that the vast majority of EU member states wants it to become a member as soon as possible, and yesterday’s negative decision should not discourage us, underlined Djelic. He pointed out that Serbia’s goal to become a candidate for membership by 2009 would not be disrupted and that support of the European Commission was once again received for this, adding that Rehn had suggested that Serbia begin implementing certain provisions of the agreement on its own, in order to realize results which will be important for the decision to give it a status of a candidate for EU membership. Djelic said that authorities in Serbia would consider this offer, but that it was important for Belgrade to have formal guarantees that these steps would be seen as implementation of the agreement. The Serbian Deputy PM said that a discussion had been initiated with Rehn and European Commission officials on having, besides the previous support of 200 million euro annually from the EU budget, the electrification of the transport route Corridor X also supported from EU funds. Djelic said that he had submitted to the European Commission a report on steps taken by Serbian authorities on fulfilling conditions for abolishing European visas for Serbian citizens, and that this should be realized next year.
