SERBIA

VUCIC: SERBIA EXPECTS ROMANIA TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SERBIA'S EU ACCESSION

BELGRADE, 22 December 2018 (Beta) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Dec. 22 he was confident that Romania would pay special attention to Serbia's accession to the European Union (EU) during the country's EU presidency in the first half of 2019, heralding new road and railway projects to connect Serbia with Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. Speaking to reporters after a meeting in Belgrade with the Romanian, Bulgarian and Greek prime ministers, President Vucic thanked Bulgaria, whose chairmanship would end on Dec. 31, for having invested serious efforts in improving the position of Serbia and the Western Balkans. "Political ties between us are getting stronger, and we will be seeing more of each other. The next meeting is in Romania, during the country's presidency of the Council of the EU," Vucic said. The Serbian president also said that at the meeting with the three prime ministers he had discussed infrastructure projects, adding that it was important to complete the East and West legs of Corridor X soon. "We have discussed the construction of a highway running through Vrsac to Temisoara, and I am truly pleased to say that Romania launched a feasibility study in December," Vucic said. President Vucic explained the project would link Belgrade with Temisoara, Sofia, Thessaloniki and Athens.

VUCIC, TSIPRAS: PRESPA AGREEMENT STRENGTHENS SERBIAN-GREEK RELATIONSHIP

BELGRADE, 21 December 2018 (Beta) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras agreed during a Dec. 21 meeting in Belgrade that the two states had developed an extremely friendly relationship, and that the materialization of the Prespa agreement would only solidify ties between Belgrade and Athens. At a joint press conference after a closed meeting with Tsipras, Vucic said that it was very important for Serbia that the Prespa agreement that ended a dispute between Macedonia and Greece be implemented, making Northern Macedonia a bridge of cooperation with Greece and bringing Belgrade and Athens closer. "I know it is not easy, but Serbia and its citizens welcome the implementation of the agreement," Vucic said. Tsipras said that the document signed at Lake Prespa was good for stability, making Macedonia "a bridge, rather than a wall" between Serbia and Greece, with a series of positive effects on joint energy and infrastructure projects expected to pave the way to economic growth. The Greek PM described as most important several gas supply projects and a railway line linking Thessaloniki with Skopje and Belgrade, and continuing to Budapest. Tsipras said he had also discussed "the unpleasant developments" in Kosovo with the Serbian president and condemned Pristina's moves. He said that Pristina's decisions to levy a 100-percent tariff on imports from Serbia and Bosnia, and to transform the Kosovo Security Force into an army, were unacceptable activities that could not possibly contribute to regional stability. "I want to send a message of condemnation over the moves made by the Kosovo authorities, which only adds fuel to the fire," Tsipras said.

TSIPRAS: EU TO MAKE POSITIVE DECISION ON BALKAN NATIONS

BELGRADE, 22 December 2018 (Beta) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in Belgrade on Dec. 22 that regarding its enlargement policy, the EU had to make "a positive decision" for the people of the Balkans, and not to "think in a defeatist manner and from the position of fear," noting that Serbia's accession to the EU was very important to the region's future. "We have difficulties that need to be overcome and as regards these important negotiations, we wish to send across a message of optimism and that all Balkan countries may follow the example we set today. They have to fulfill commitments and implement reforms in accordance with the EU acquis in order to access the EU, to honor international law, the rights of minorities and the rule of law. Serbia meets this criteria, while the others have to follow that path," Tsipras told a joint news conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and prime ministers of Romania Viorica Dancila and Bulgaria Boyko Borisov respectively. Tsipras said that the meeting had discussed a revision of the EU asylum system as one of priorities during Romania's presidency of the EU. "During Austria's presidency, the issue did not move forward and through Romania's presidency we will open the way to it. We cannot pursue the principle that the first country of reception of migrants shall take the entire burden. This is a crucial question and it concerns all of Europe. We also have to abide by the principle of solidarity and share asylum seekers between us," Tsipras said. He also said that the meeting touched on cooperation in the fields of energy, infrastructure and sports.

DANCILA: WESTERN BALKANS IN FOCUS OF ROMANIA'S EU PRESIDENCY

BELGRADE, 22 December 2018 (Beta) - Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said in Belgrade on Dec. 22 that during its presidency over the EU, Bucharest planned to focus on the Western Balkans and back the region in the EU enlargement process, which she described as a key field. "We can give our contribution to the enlargement process and to support the Western Balkan region," Dancila told a joint news conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the prime ministers of Greece and Bulgaria, Alexis Tsipras and Boyko Borisov. She reiterated Romania's support to Serbia's EU path and invited Vucic to visit Bucharest during Romania's EU presidency, which will commence on Jan. 1, 2019. Dancila also said that the closing and opening of new chapters required Bulgaria's and Greece's support and technical assistance to Serbia. She added that Europe was facing many challenges, both internal and international, but that she was convinced that Europeans "will together shape a future in which the EU will get closer to its citizens and will be able to provide a better future to them." Speaking about Romania's priorities during its EU presidency, Dancila cited asylum-related issues, migrations and common defense policies. The agenda will also include the Danube Strategy, she said.

BORISOV: BALKANS' GREAT POTENTIAL NOT TO BE UNDERESTIMATED

BELGRADE, 22 December 2018 (Beta) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Bojko Borisov said during a Dec. 22 visit to Belgrade that the Balkans should not be underestimated, and that there was great potential for the region development. "God gave our states the most beautiful location on Earth, the area between the Danube River, Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and we also possess great potentials that need to be used," Borisov said at a press conference along with Serbian, Romanian and Greek leaders, Aleksandar Vucic, Viorica Dancila and Alexis Tsipras respectively. The Bulgarian prime minister said that infrastructure projects provided a way to materialize these potentials. Borisov said that a highway to Serbia would be completed in a year, year and a half, a railway infrastructure project was finalized and gas connection lines with Greece were underway. The Bulgarian prime minister said he hoped it would be possible to build several bridges across the Danube river. Bulgaria's leader also said he hoped Romania would keep migrations and asylum on its agenda, as migrations could "sink" the Balkans.

VUCIC, ORIZIO DISCUSS PROGRESS IN DRAFTING MEDIA STRATEGY

BELGRADE, 21 December 2018 (Beta) - Serbia's media ambient has to be developed through an inclusive approach by involving all interested parties, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said at a Dec. 21 meeting with the head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Andrea Orizio. The two officials also discussed the progress made in drafting a new national media strategy, which should contribute to a better media atmosphere in Serbia with the help of international experiences, the Office of the Serbian President has said. Vucic thanked Ambassador Orizio for his mission's contribution to reforms in Serbia, readiness to assist in drafting the new policy document for the Serbian media and support for improvements to the media community based on Europe's best practices. Orizio praised the work being done on the media strategy, underlining that he was pleased with the constructive role of the working group, which delivered the first draft in time for a public debate on Dec. 17, in Novi Sad. The OSCE head of mission said it was very important for journalists to enjoy the freedom of speech, to do their job professionally and with accountability and respect for the code of ethics, the Vucic office quoted Orizio as saying. The president and the diplomat also discussed the OSCE mission's programs for the rule of law, police reform and the democratization of society, and Orizio also welcomed progress in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice following recommendations by the Venice Commission, underlining the importance of the parliament in a debate on constitutional change. The OSCE chief in Serbia also said that the mission, as Serbia's long-term partner, was willing to continue to work together with Serbian institutions to support the creation and implementation of laws, the process of creating the new media strategy and the overall national reform process.

VUCIC, PM SEND LETTERS OF CONDOLENCES TO INDONESIAN PRESIDENT

BELGRADE, 23 December 2018 (Beta) - President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic sent on Dec. 23 letters of condolences to Joko Widodo, president of Indonesia for the large number of victims of a devastating tsunami that has hit the country. "We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that has stricken you country and please convey to the families of the victims and the missing persons our deepest condolences," Vucic said in the letter, according to a release from his office. Vucic also said that Serbia was ready to within its possibilities send help to Indonesia, the release said.
"On behalf of the Government and in my personal name, I express condolences to you, the government of Indonesia and the families of the victims in the Indonesia tsunami," Brnabic said in a letter, according to a statement from the government. She also said that Serbia's citizens sympathized with the people in Indonesia and wished a speedy recovery to all of those injured, according to the statement.
The Dec. 22 tsunami killed at least 222 persons, leaving 843 injured, while 28 are reported as missing. The death toll could increase as rescue teams have not reached all of the affected areas.

VULIN, MIHAJLOVIC MEET WITH CHINA'S OUTGOING AMBASSADOR

BELGRADE, 21 December 2018 (Beta) - Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin met on Dec. 21 with outgoing Chinese ambassador to Serbia, Li Manchang, whose term is expiring. Minister Vulin said that relations between Serbia and China had reached an all-time high, and that Ambassador Manchang's "selfless work and extraordinary commitment has contributed greatly to stronger ties between the two friendly nations." The defense minister thanked the ambassador for China's support to Serbia in its demands for the protection of its territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as for its efforts to make it impossible for Kosovo to join international organizations.
Serbia's deputy prime minister, Zorana Mihajlovic, who is also the minister of construction, transport and infrastructure, also met with the outgoing diplomat, saying that his term in office would be remembered by large-scale infrastructure projects and a new high in their friendly bilateral relationship. "Most Serbian-Chinese joint projects were materialized precisely during your term in office, from the 'Mihailo Pupin' bridge to Corridor XI to a by-pass road around Belgrade and the Belgrade-Budapest high-speed rail, with so many new projects in the pipeline," Mihajlovic said.