SERBIA

BRNABIC: SERBIAN-CHINESE RELATIONS REACH ALL-TIME HIGH

BELGRADE, December 10 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Dec. 10 that relations between Serbia and China had reached an all-time high, and that Serbia continued to be a reliable partner to China. In her opening speech at the conference "Belt and Road Initiative in the Balkans," organized by the Belgrade Strategic Dialogue, Brnabic said the results of the initiative were already evident to the citizens of Serbia, as they were able to see new roads, bridges, railway reconstruction projects, digitalization and environmental efforts. The Serbian PM underlined the importance of free trade and the free flow of goods and capital, warning that Pristina's 100-percent tax on Serbian products was indicative of disastrous consequences of trade and other blockades. The Chinese ambassador to Serbia, Li Manchang, said the purpose of the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI) was to connect people across the globe, irrespective of their country or race. A professor at the Nankai University, Ge Shunchi, described the initiative as economic, rather than political or military. He said the initiative had been designed to create a flexible economic network for countries to connect with each other. Wolfgang Petritsch, an Austrian diplomat, said the BRI was developing in the context of large-scale global turmoil.

TWO MORE CHAPTERS OPENED IN EU-SERBIA NEGOTIATIONS, MINISTER CONCERNED OVER KOSOVO

BRUSSELS, December 10 2018 (Beta) - Two more chapters were opened in Serbia's accession negotiations with the European Union (EU) at a Serbia-EU Intergovernmental Conference in Brussels, on Dec. 10, namely, Chapter 17 on economic and monetary policy, and Chapter 18 on statistics. European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn noted at a press conference that the opening of the two new chapters was a sign that Serbia was firmly on the way towards the EU, as Chapters 17 and 18 were "key to Serbia's structural reforms," which he described as very good, but in need of a boost. Hahn underlined that the reforms of the rule of law, good governance and fundamental rights were critical, as all chapters were related to them. The Serbian minister in charge of the country's EU accession, Jadranka Joksimovic, said that at least one more chapter could have been opened, and that most of the EU members were in favor of it, while some had suggested that no chapters be opened. Chapter 17 provides for the independence of central banks in pursuing an economic and monetary policy, preventing them from furnishing direct financial support to the public sector, and denying the public sector privileged access to financial institutions in order for a market economy to work. The acquis on statistics provided under Chapter 18 are expected to produce reliable and accurate data to evaluate the status of society and state institutions. In a comment on Chapter 18, the EU enlargement commissioner said that Serbia owned an extensive statistics base, adding that both chapters Serbia had opened were extremely important and useful "because local and foreign investors monitor very carefully Serbia's monetary and economic policy." Serbia has opened 16 chapters in the negotiations with the Union, two of which are temporarily closed. After the Intergovernmental Conference was over, Minister Joksimovic said she was concerned over Pristina's moves, adding that she told her partners in Brussels that Kosovo was threatening to impose new measures against Serbia and the dialogue, trampling on the European values Serbia had been building. Commissioner Hahn said he had recently visited Belgrade and Pristina in a bid to re-establish the dialogue. He said it's "crystal clear that a decision to levy a 100-percent customs tariff on imports from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina was fundamentally opposed to the spirit of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and the regional trade area, and unacceptable as well."

DJORDJEVIC HEADS SERBIAN DELEGATION AT CONGRESS IN MARRAKESH

BELGRADE, December 10 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans' and Social Affairs Zoran Djordjevic is spearheading the Serbian delegation to the international Conference on the Global Agreement on Safe, Regulated and Legal Migration, held in Marrakesh on Dec. 10 and 11. On the sidelines of this congress, Djordjevic had a series of successful bilateral encounters, the Serbian ministry announced. The talks included emphasis on the importance of developing and advancing bilateral cooperation and working together for the purpose of regulating the course of migration in a socially acceptable manner, the press release reads. Djordjevic was a guest at a special luncheon held by King Mohammed VI of Morocco in honor of the assembly. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani opened the conference. Participants included many heads of state, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Greek PM Alexis Tsipras.

RUZIC: SERBIA EXAMPLE OF STATE THAT HAS RAISED HUMAN, MINORITY RIGHTS TO HIGHEST STANDARDS

BELGRADE, December 10 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Minister of State Administration and Local Government Branko Ruzic congratulated all citizens of Serbia on International Day of Human Rights, stating that Serbia today was a good and attention-worthy example of a state that has elevated human and minority rights to the highest international standards. "This year has been marked by the advancement of the rights of members of national minorities, by which we have sent another message to the world that, together, respecting each other, enriching each other, we can build Serbia as a modern, tolerant, multiethnic society, where there is a place for all who love and accept this country as their own," Ruzic said according to his Ministry. He said respecting and advancing human rights was an important part of Serbian state policy, and that the day was an opportunity to be reminded of the importance of honoring the rights and dignity of every individual. "With the desire that today's messages will inspire mutual respect, trust and tolerance, I congratulate all citizens of the Republic of Serbia on International Day of Human Rights," Ruzic said.

MOGHERINI: NORMALIZATION DEAL POSSIBLE DESPITE CURRENT DIFFICULTIES

BRUSSELS, December 10 2018 (Beta) - High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said on Dec. 10 that she was still convinced that the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue could go on despite the current difficulties, and that the two sides were able to reach a legally binding agreement to normalize their relations, but that it was up to Belgrade and Pristina, not Brussels. At a press conference following a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Mogherini said that Kosovo's decision to levy new taxes on Serbian and Bosnian imports undermined the dialogue, and appealed to Pristina to revoke it, as the talks should proceed in the spirit of trust and respect. The EU high representative added that the EU continued to support the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, in order to produce a positive outcome - a legally binding agreement that would solve all the issues related to the full normalization of relations. Mogherini explained that neither the EU nor member states owned the dialogue, but that it belonged to Belgrade and Pristina. "The EU has been clear from the beginning that we would welcome any outcome that resolves all the issues related to normalization in a comprehensive and legally binding way, with respect for the principles of international law and EU rules. And, allow me to underline this, it would mean no ethnic divisions within or between the countries," Mogherini said, answering a journalist's question if the EU would accept the idea of border correction. She added that "regardless of adjustments the two parties might discuss in the future, it will never lead to ethnically pure states." The EU high representative added that any solution had to be acceptable for both sides, and that it was up to Belgrade and Pristina to come to an agreement, while Brussels was to make it easier and verify if it corresponded with international law and EU rules.

ECONOMY

MALI: 70 PERCENT OF SERBIA'S CLEARING DEBT TO CZECH REPUBLIC WRITTEN OFF

BELGRADE, December 10 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali and his Czech counterpart Alena Schillerova on Dec. 10 signed a deal on Serbia's clearing debt to the Czech Republic, which includes a 70-percent write-off of the former Yugoslav debt. "We managed, after hard negotiations, to get a 70-percent write-off, to get from USD32.7 million to 9.8 million. It's something that encumbered relations between the two countries over the past 25 years. Serbia has the money in an account. The old debt will be settled," Mali said. He added that Serbia would have 45 days to pay the USD9.8 million once the agreement is ratified, the Finance Ministry said in a press release. The minister said the settling of this debt would make it possible to turn over a new leaf in Serbian-Czech relations, developing cooperation and encouraging investment. "We talked a lot about new investors coming to our country from the Czech Republic. It's a great thing and that is why we want to resolve these old debts as soon as possible in order to create room for the further development of our bilateral relations," Mali said. The Czech minister said the agreement on settling the Serbian debt would improve bilateral relations, which were burdened by this issue from the past. The signing included Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who heads the delegation visiting the Czech Republic.

CENTRAL BANK: CHAPTER 17 CONTRIBUTES TO MACROECONOMIC STABILITY

BELGRADE, December 10 2018 (Beta) - The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) says that the opening of an EU accession chapter on economic and monetary policy will help maintain Serbia's macroeconomic stability, advance the country's competitiveness and boost economic growth on market principles. The central bank claims that national legislation shaping the economic and monetary policy of Serbia has been harmonized with the EU acquis "to the highest possible degree," but that Serbia have provided for certain amendments to the key laws to ensure full harmonization. More specifically, the Central Bank Act and the Budget System Act have to be amended by the end of 2021 for that purpose. "The benefits of opening Chapter 17 lie in modern economic and monetary legislation developed under EU standards, which Serbia will use to continue to maintain its macroeconomic stability, boost competitiveness and local economy growth based on market principles and free competition. It will be possible by maintaining the stability of prices and public finances, pursuing structural economic reforms and developing the local business setting," the NBS said in a press release. The Community acquis in the area of monetary policy supports the independence of central banks, banning them from financing the public sector directly, and not allowing the public sector privileged access to financial institutions. The NBS bank has said that new member states are expected to fulfill requirements for adopting the Euro, and to treat their foreign exchange policy as a matter of shared interest with the EU until they actually join the Eurozone.