Today, at the National Assembly House, the Chairmen of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic and European Integrations Committee Laszlo Varga talked in separate meetings to Rainer Stinner, member of the German Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee. The German parliamentarian also talked to the President and a member of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Germany, Bosko Ristic and Konstantin Samofalov.

In the meetings, deputy Stinner was interested in Serbia’s position and further steps following the reading of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the compliance of the unilateral declaration on Kosovo with international law and activities concerning Serbia’s accession to the European Union.

Stinner said that Germany poses no impediment to Serbia’s further integration into the European Union, but merely insists that the conditions for the accession be met so as to avoid the problems incurred by Romania and Bulgaria’s accession.

Regarding this, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Micunovic said that Serbia would never recognise Kosovo as an independent state. He pointed out the various problems in Kosovo-Metohija stemming from the disregard for human rights of both Serbs and Albanians, and particularly the difficult position of Serbs in the north of the Province. He also stressed that the displaced persons from Kosovo are not returning and that the restitution of their property is something that should receive proper attention. We strive for a peaceful resolution of the Kosovo-Metohija issue and above all resolution of the open questions through dialogue with representatives of the Kosovo institutions and we shall work on reconciliation in the region, stressed Micunovic.

Micunovic pointed out that by joining the European Union the Western Balkans region would ensure its stability and that the relations among the countries in the region have been raised to a higher level.

Laszlo Varga briefed the German parliamentarian on the competencies and work of the European Integrations Committee. He expressed expectation that the adoption of a new National Assembly Rules of Procedure would enable a speedier adoption of laws from the so-called European agenda. Serbia is dedicated to its preparations for EU accession and will strive to implement the reform envisaged by the National Programme of Integration of Serbia into the European Union by 2012.

President of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Germany Bosko Ristic stressed that the National Assembly had adopted a Decision on Serbia’s continued activities in the defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity and will strive to, in line with international law, act for the purpose of strengthening peace and trust among the states in the region. Serbia will discuss the new UNSC declaration on Kosovo with the EU and other countries, because it believes that there is enough room for Serbian diplomacy to act on it. Not prejudicating Kosovo–Metohija’s future status, we will take part in seeking a solution to overcome the main life problems the Serbian and other non-Albanian population faces in the Province, stressed Ristic. He also pointed out that Serbia will continue to implement reform in order to modernise and democratise the society and strengthen its institutions.