Lithuania is not waiting for the outcome of our discussions with Pristina but is following them closely and very positively looks upon the steps taken by the Serbian Government in that context.

In a hectic diplomatic activity of the top leadership ahead of a decision on a date for opening accession negotiations with the EU, Assistant Foreign Minister Ljubica Vasic visited over a few days Lithuania, the only country which has not yet ratified the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) that Serbia signed with the European Union on 29 April 2008.

Q. On your visit to Lithuania you announced that it will consider ratification of the SAA with Serbia during its spring parliamentary session. Will this be depending on the success of negotiations with Pristina or on some other outstanding issues that we have with this country?

A. After my discussions with the officials of Lithuania, I can say that I was pleasantly surprised that all my meetings with them were constructive as well as the atmosphere in which they were held. I would emphasise that the Lithuanian side praised actions taken by the Serbian Government, especially against corruption and organised crime, and they commended the steps forward in the reform of the judiciary and public administration, because the two chapters are extremely important and will lead us to the transformation of the system, to restoring public confidence in institutions and a proper functioning of the government administration. And all this will take Serbia into the EU.

Q. Is Lithuania also waiting for the outcome of Belgrade-Pristina negotiations?

A. I cannot say that they are, but they are following them. They have positively assessed the steps that the Government has taken in that context. Here they have in mind the Government of Serbia's instruction regarding the participation of Kosovo with an asterisk in regional organisations. Also they commended the adoption of the Platform and the Resolution. In the talks they really demonstrated their positive views on the maturity and readiness of the Serbian Government to deal with the issues that were very sensitive, and they saw that we were committed to finding a compromise.

Q. Has the Lithuanian Government forgotten about, and forgiven us for the candidature and appointment of Mr Vuk Jeremic as President of the UN General Assembly, who had been given preference over their candidate in the vote?

A. I suppose that they will not forget it. They had objections as to how this was done. But, now the Lithuanian side or any other side with which Serbia is talking have new negotiators, new people in their diplomacy who are forwarding-looking. Lithuanians, too, have supported our orientation to future activities, to positive results, and that we are trying to put everything unpleasant behind us.

Q. That unpleasant business is still "standing in the way" between the two countries, namely the privatisations of the fertilizer plant and the BIP brewery, for which both parties believe that the other side is to blame. To what extent these outstanding issues are a condition for SAA ratification by them?

A. We have talked about this, as it is very important to them. However, I would like to follow up on the positive results this Government has achieved and the credibility it has restored, whether internally or in the international political arena. In a nutshell, having seen that there is indeed positive action against corruption and organised crime in the country, they have realised how much we are committed to doing something about improving the business environment and attracting foreign investors, but also about enabling local investors to cut out their niche. The two controversial privatisations were something they had an interest in, but an investigation by the international arbitration is now underway and its findings will be known in April. Of course, we are going to accept the findings of the arbitration, whatever they may be, and the Lithuanian side is satisfied with such a position on our part.

Q. Are any of the new appointees in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lobbying to stop the new recognitions of Kosovo's independence?

A. We are all working for Serbia, including us in the MFA who are working to protect our national interest, our border and to respect the Constitution. So, every word spoken and every action taken should be well-considered because we are actually under close scrutiny all the time. But if you love your country and your people, that will, in itself, be enough to bring about positive results.

Q. Has the MFA contacted the administration of the new Czech President Milos Zeman, who has indicated that he will make an effort to have his country withdraw the recognition of Kosovo?

A. That is the job of the Sector of Bilateral Relations. It goes without saying that we will have consultations. We hold regular meetings with the Minister, and I think that we are going to meet with him on Tuesday, which is when we'll have a more definite answer to that question.

Q. You have mentioned a bilateral agreement with Lithuania. What will be its subject?

A. That'll be an agreement on European cooperation in sharing experiences in the context of European integration, in order to draw upon various experiences at the international level. I also had meetings with the Deputy Interior Minister and the Deputy Agriculture Minister. Both meetings were very useful, reflecting their interest in cooperation where we can help each other with our experiences. Lithuanians have really shown an interest, and I am very pleased with this visit, because I can say that there are many areas where we can cooperate in the future.

Q. MFA Ivan Mrkic will visit Lithuania in April. Will he be signing the bilateral agreement then?

A. He should be. We'll do our utmost to have it signed. Both sides have demonstrated an interest in exchanging visits more frequently, and they will probably make a return visit.