SERBIA

DACIC RECEIVES FAREWELL VISIT FROM INDONESIAN AMBASSADOR

BELGRADE, Dececmber 19 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic on Dec. 19 received a farewell visit from Indonesian Ambassador to Serbia Harry Kandou ahead of the conclusion of his term, and thanked him for his personal contribution to improving bilateral relations, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said in a press release. Dacic voiced the conviction that the decades of friendly relations between the two countries would continue upward, especially when it comes to the economy, parliamentary cooperation, education, science, culture and sports, the press release said. Dacic said Serbia and Indonesia had excellent understanding in key issues, particularly thanking Indonesia for its "principled and unequivocal position of not recognizing" the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, and ongoing support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia. Kandou thanked Dacic for his personal contribution to promoting Serbia-Indonesia relations and voiced satisfaction with the level of bilateral cooperation, affirming Indonesia's interest for further bolstering the traditionally friendly relations. Kandou expressed appreciation for excellent multilateral cooperation, especially Serbia's support of Indonesia's run for the 2019-2020 non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. He reiterated Indonesia's firm stand on not recognizing Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence and said this position would remain unchanged.

DACIC MEETS WITH NEW ARGENTINIAN AMBASSADOR

BELGRADE, December 19 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic on Dec. 19 received new Argentinian Ambassador Estanislao Zawels and emphasized an interest in stepping up political dialog with Argentina and advancing cooperation in all areas, first of all the economy, read a press release issued by the Serbian Foreign Ministry. The two officials said Argentina was one of Serbia's most important partners in the Latin American region and beyond, and that the two nations were linked by long-standing friendship, excellent relations and a common advocacy of international law, the statement noted. Ambassador Zawels recalled the long history of relations and the close stances on numerous issues, including the principle of territorial integrity. In addition to affirming Argentina's political support to Serbia, he pointed out the intention to contribute to improving cooperation in multiple areas, like agriculture, energy, culture, etc, by active engagement. Dacic conveyed Serbia's gratitude for Argentina's principled support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia and pointed out the interest to step up political dialog with Argentina at all levels and advance cooperation in all areas, first of all the economy.

VUCIC: DIALOGUE ONLY AFTER THEY ABOLISH FEES

BRUSSELS, December 19 2018 (Beta) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated in Brussels on Dec. 19 that Serbia was ready to continue the dialogue with Pristina as soon as Kosovo abolishes the import fees. He said he hoped the decision on the fees would soon be revoked and that the world would continue to insist on that. Vucic told reporters after the meeting of leaders of the Western Balkan countries with the EU high representative for foreign policy and security, Federica Mogherini, that he advocated building a more unified regional market. "Even if we enter the EU in 2025, which is not at all certain, it is crucial for all of us to develop our economies," Vucic stated. Vucic said Serbia was "in the toughest position" and "alone" at the meeting, since all the countries there except Bosnia and Herzegovina had recognized Kosovo's independence, but that the best possible relations were being developed with them in all other fields. He said the meeting was open and useful, and that they concurred about the need to work on mutual relations regardless of European integration. The Serbian president said he had read the letter of U.S. President Donald Trump and that he learned from it that the U.S. was interested in the Kosovo issue being solved through some kind of compromise, but added that no compromise was in sight. Vucic stated he did not agree with Trump's assessment that the process of solving the Kosovo issue was in the final phase, but said that it was important that, for the first time, an American president became "directly included and showed interest in relations between Belgrade and Pristina." "I do not think it is easy or simple, but we have no alternative but to seek a solution, to prevent a bad solution from seeking us," Vucic stated. In his words, it will not be easy to include the U.N. in the dialogue, but added that, in the end, everything would depend on decisions reached in the U.N., "if it ever comes to that." Vucic said that he spoke with the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and the EU's foreign minister, Federica Mogherini, but not with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, whom he "saw during lunch".

VUCIC, TUSK ON SITUATION IN REGION, PRISTINA'S MEASURES, SERBIA'S EU INTEGRATION

BRUSSELS, December 19 2018 (Beta) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met in Brussels, on Dec. 19 with European Council president Donald Tusk to discuss the situation in the region, Pristina's illegal measures and Serbia's bid to join the European Union, the president's press service said in a press release. Vucic stressed that Serbia strongly supported the dialog on normalizing relations with Pristina and believed talks were the only way to solve unresolved issues and preserve stability. Vucic noted that further talks were made impossible by Pristina's move to raise tariffs to 100 percent in violation of CEFTA, the attempt to hijack the power system and adopt laws allowing the Kosovo Security Forces to be transformed into the Army of Kosovo, in contravention of Resolution 1244 of the U.N. Security Council, the Brussels Agreement, the position of the Serb community and Kosovo law. "Serbia is committed to advancing regional cooperation and dedicated to contribution to this goal. Successful regional cooperation and its advancement require strict adherence to agreements and parameters of cooperation by all participants in the region. The only way to create the conditions where resuming talks would be possible would be for Pristina to lift its illegal and completely unreasonable decisions," Vucic stressed. Tusk praised Serbia's reasonable response in relation to Pristina, the press release noted. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic was also present at the meeting.

BRNABIC MEETS WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR TRADE

BRUSSELS, December 19 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said at a Dec. 19 meeting with European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom in Brussels that the 100-percent tariff introduced by Pristina on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were undermining regional stability. A press release issued by the Serbian cabinet read that, according to estimates, the Serbian economy had lost EUR25.7 million in sales in November because of Pristina's tax, and that, should the measure remain in force, the sum would rise to EUR65.5 million by the end of the year. In a talk with Malmstrom, Brnabic said that the 100-percent tariff clashed with European values, were a direct violation of the CEFTA agreement and undermined regional stability. She added that Serbia wanted a stable region to draw investors and keep youth. Malmstrom voiced concern over Pristina's measures and reiterated the EU's position that the 100-percent tariff was wrong and had to be lifted, and that the measure was clearly not economic, but political, the statement read. The European commissioner thanked the PM and Serbia, as the largest country in the region, for the constructive approach to this issue and insistence on finding a solution solely through dialog, the Serbian government's press release noted. Brnabic was due to meet with European Commission president Jean Claude Juncker, too, while in Brussels.

BRNABIC: I AM NOT WORRIED BY STRATEGY OF ENLARGEMENT IN 2025, REFORMS ARE WHAT'S IMPORTANT

BRUSSELS, December 19 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic stated in Brussels on Dec. 19 that she was focused on reforms which Serbia needs to carry out on the path to the European Union, and that she was not worried about whether the Union would be open for new members in 2025. During her address at the European Policy Center, she said the rhetoric of the countries which said that they would "go elsewhere" if they did not receive clear assurances about enlargement from the European Union, was wrong. "If you want to join a club, you do not blackmail the club into admitting you, but show that you have fulfilled the standards for admission," she added. The main foreign policy goal of Serbia is the EU, the prime minister said, stressing the importance of the closing, not just of the opening of chapters in the EU negotiations. Commenting on the EU's strategy for 2025, Brnabic reiterated the importance of reforms, adding that "the journey is more important than the goal."

STEFANOVIC RECEIVES LI ON FAREWELL VISIT

BELGRADE, December 19 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic has received the Chinese ambassador to Serbia, Li Manchang, on a farewell visit, and thanked him for helping the development of relations between Serbia and China, the Serbian Interior Ministry stated on Dec. 19. Stefanovic and the Chinese ambassador assessed that Serbia and China had traditionally good and friendly relations, and that they were additionally strengthened in the recent years by the arrival of Chinese investors in Serbia. Stefanovic and Li Manchang concurred that cooperation between the two countries in the field of security was at a high level and that they were convinced it would develop further. According to reports in the Belgrade media, the mandate of Ambassador Li Manchang expires at the end of December, and he will be succeeded by the current ambassador of China to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chen Bo.

VULIN, CHEPURIN: GROWING DEFENSE COOPERATION

BELGRADE, December 19 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin and Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Chepurin said on Dec. 19 that defense cooperation between the two nations had grown, especially in military and technological cooperation, a press release said. In the meeting, devoted to current security affairs and advancing defense cooperation, Vulin thanked his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu for his "personal contribution to advancing and strengthening technological cooperation." Vulin also voiced gratitude for Russian support to Serbia's demand to disarm the military of Kosovo in a U.N. Security Council session, and Chepurin reiterated that Russia would continue to provide "full support" to Serbia in its efforts in the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, the press release noted further.

ECONOMY

DEAL TO DESIGN, BUILD FIRST STRETCH OF BELGRADE-SARAJEVO HIGHWAY

BELGRADE, December 19 2018 (Beta) - Representatives of the Serbian government and the Turkish construction outfit Tasyapi on Dec. 19 signed a commercial contract on designing and building the first stretch of the Belgrade-Sarajevo highway, from Sremska Raca to Kuzmin, worth EUR250 million. Deals were also inked on building 376 apartments for security force members in Nis and Vranje. Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic told reporters after the signing that construction would start on the Belgrade-Sarajevo highway in 2020. "The Turkish company Tasyapi will work on reconstructing the Novi Pazar-Tutin road. We expect them to do so in accordance with the contract and on time. Next year we'll sign a financial contract, too," Mihajlovic said. Turkish Minister of Transport Mehmet Turhan said the Belgrade-Sarajevo highway project was one of the most important infrastructure projects, important to the development of trade and regional interfacing among countries. Serbia is an important stability factor in the region and a state with which Turkey has excellent relations. I hope the signing of this commercial contract will give a new dimension to our cooperation in telecommunications and transport, Turhan said. Serbian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications Rasim Ljajic said the signing of the commercial contract on building the highway was the result of successful trilateral relations among Serbia, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina.