Athens , 19 November 2009

Mr. Jeremic: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is a pleasure to meet here in Belgrade with my old friend Dimitris Droutsas. Our friendship goes back many years, and we have had the opportunity to work together not only on a governmental level, but also in various forums, including the Socialist International. But now, on the occasion of his taking up his new duties, I would like to welcome him to Belgrade, and I don’t think this will be the last time he visits us in this capacity.

Today, we talked about the accession of the Western Balkans to the EU – that was the main subject of our talks: ‘Agenda 2014’, a plan for the accession of all of the countries of the Western Balkans to the EU by 2014. It is welcome, and it is an initiative that we support avidly. We waited a long time for Greece to once again take a leading role in the Balkans, and particularly with regard to EU enlargement, to reinvigorate the Thessaloniki Agenda. We are very pleased that George Papandreou’s government, of which Mr. Droutsas is a member, is starting its term with EU enlargement among its immediate priorities, just as the previous socialist government did, with George Papandreou as foreign minister then.

We have some very important weeks ahead of us; important for the European future of Serbia and the Western Balkans as a whole. We have ahead of us weeks during which we will return to the visa regime of 20 years ago, with the abolition of entry visa requirements for Serbs wishing to travel in the EU. And this is of particular importance to us. We have before us important decisions regarding the next steps on our course to full EU accession.

This concerns the activation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement. We think that the conditions exist for Serbia’s moving ahead and taking this important step towards its integration into the EU, which is the activation of the SAA, after which Serbia will be in a position to submit an application for EU accession candidacy. This step will put an end to the international debate on ‘What path is Serbia taking?’.

Serbia is following the course of accession to the EU. The achievement of this goal is a strategic position of the Serbian government, and we believe that by the end of the year all of the conditions will be in place for this step to be taken.

Naturally, something like this is easier to achieve with Greece as a partner. We are grateful to Greece for its support for our European course, just as we are grateful to Greece for its support for our struggle to ensure sovereignty and territorial integrity with regard to the status of our southern province of Kosovo and Metochi.

There are no pending issues between Greece and Serbia. Greece is our closest partner and ally in the EU. And it is really a pleasure to receive, as host, my friend Dimitris and to thank him warmly for his condolences and his presence here tomorrow as the representative of the Greek government at an event so sad and important for us: the funeral of Patriarch Pavle.

Mr. Droutsas: My thanks to Foreign Minister Jeremic for his warm welcome. First of all, let me express on behalf of the Greek government, as well, our condolences at the passing of Patriarch Pavle.

We are a new government – just a few weeks in office – and within these few weeks this is already our second, or rather our third official meeting, and I think this is a clear indication not only of our close personal relations, but also of the strategic relations, I would say, between our two countries. It also indicates the common will of both governments to promote even further this close cooperation that we have already had for some time. And so I once again express my great thanks for your hospitality, and I must say that I always feel at home here in Belgrade.

I think that our bilateral relations are really at an extremely high level. This is well known, and I needn’t repeat it and say a lot about it. I would prefer to devote time to the main issue we came to Belgrade for and that we have already discussed and will continue discussing this evening.

Right now, I am on a tour of the Western Balkans, and my first stop is right here in Belgrade. The Greek government wants once again to play a dynamic leading role here in the region of the Balkans, our top goal being the effective promotion of the European accession courses of all of the countries of the Western Balkans, including Serbia of course. To this end, as Mr. Jeremic mentioned, this government and the Prime Minister of Greece himself, Mr. Papandreou, has put forward a new proposal, a new thought, to the EU. What we call ‘Agenda 2014’. A target date for the accession courses of all of the countries of the Western Balkans.

It is a political proposal, and is particularly symbolic. A hundred years after the outbreak of World War I. One could say, in simple terms, that the outbreak of World War I is in a way the source of open wounds we still have here in the Balkans.

The European Union is the most successful peace project we know, and thus the EU must step up to its responsibilities and contribute decisively to peace and stability in the Balkan region. The Balkans – including Serbia – are an integral part of Europe, our European family, and we believe that this can be achieved most effectively through the promotion of the European accession courses of all of these countries. As we said, a symbolic and political date might be 2014, so that the completion of the European accession course of the whole region can be achieved.

It is important to once again create a new dynamic, fresh momentum, for the accession course of the Balkans, and this is precisely what I want us to discuss – this is what we are discussing – here. And I want with my friend the Foreign Minister of Serbia, Mr. Vuk Jeremic, to look at how we can – through this proposal, through this policy – promote Serbia’s European course.

You know that Greece is an ardent supporter of Serbia’s European course. It is really an issue of common interest, and one on which Greece and Serbia can and must collaborate closely. And this is what we will do. Once again, my dear Vuk, I thank you very much for the warm welcome to Belgrade.

Journalist: What has the Greek government gathered – with regard to the FYROM name issue – from the separate meetings [Mr. Nimetz] had with the negotiators this week? Is there will from the other side for a solution by December? Does the Greek government think there is enough time?

Mr. Droutsas: What I had the opportunity to say just now about ‘Agenda 2014’ is that it is Greece’s sincere will to be the motor force behind the European accession course of all the countries of the Western Balkans. This will is genuine, of course, with regard to Skopje as well. Greece wants to help FYROM join the EU.

But for all the countries, of course, there are criteria, prerequisites. With regard to Skopje, we see the prior resolution of the name issue as a clear prerequisite. We do not agree to the opening of accession negotiations with Skopje without the prior resolution of the name issue. We have stressed this repeatedly, in a very clear manner. That is, we think that we should always make our meaning very clear, so that there should be no room for misunderstandings or surprises.

Greece’s position on the name issue is clear and well known to everyone. We are talking about a name with a geographical qualifier, for use in relation to everyone (erga omnes). It is a clear position of the talks that are taking place within the framework of the UN; talks that we have supported repeatedly and fully.

I want to stress – as I have said many times – that Greece is open-minded, and we want to have cooperation with Skopje. We want to come closer to the people of our neighbouring country. We want the people of our neighbouring country to know that Greece is a friend and wants to help.

Mr. Jeremic: I would like to add something regarding this very important and sensitive issue. The Greek government’s position is prudent, rational and understandable, and Athens can count on the full political, moral and other support of Belgrade in resolving this important issue. Greece has proven that it is a sincere friend and motor force for the European integration process of the Western Balkans, and in this context we fully understand – and will continue to provide full support for – the efforts of the Greek government to resolve all the issues that are important for the Western Balkans, including the sensitive issue of the name of the state whose capital is Skopje.

Journalist: Mr. Minister, in view of the application you want to submit by the end of the year for EU accession, will this be impacted by the request you submitted to the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding Kosovo?

Mr. Jeremic: The resolution of the future status of our southern province and Serbia’s accession to the EU are two different matters. Serbia will never – in any way, in any manner, neither today nor tomorrow, neither directly nor indirectly, neither expressly nor tacitly – recognize Pristina’s independence. That is, today’s government – and I believe this holds true for any democratically elected government of the Serbian people – will never, in any manner – neither today nor in the future – do this. Also with regard to the current government, it will never stop pursuing the goal of full and equal accession to the EU. As to whether this is also the position of any other Serbian government that may take office, that is something that I cannot guarantee.