The NATO delegation was primarily interested in the situation in Kosovo and the tensions, which is how they characterised the current state of affairs, stressing the fact that their delegation is comprised of countries which have recognised the independence of Kosovo.
Lord Jopling also wanted to find out from the National Assembly Speaker something more about Serbia’s European aspirations, the relations between Serbia and the countries in the region and the economic situation in the country.
National Assembly Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic informed the delegation members that the current Government had inherited a 2.2 billion EUR budget deficit, not including the various liabilities accrued in the meantime. The current Government, stressed Stefanovic, made public the scope of the crisis and the real economic situation the country is in, introducing measures which should by the end of the year be directed toward halting further economic decline. The new systemic laws, primarily the Public Procurement Law, fight against corruption and zero tolerance should ensure better conditions for investment and economic recovery, stressed Stefanovic. Continued judiciary reform and responsibility of those who stole from public funds, and not the persecution of political opponents, as well as strengthening the independence of the judiciary, should also ensure Serbia’s speedier Euro-integration, Stefanovic concluded.
As regards Kosovo-Metohija, the National Assembly Speaker informed the NATO delegation about the difficult position of Serbs and non-Albanians. He also asked NATO, which is, Stefanovic reminded, status neutral, to pay more attention to the provocations coming from Pristina and the incidents which as a rule escalate just before or during international activities concerning Kosovo-Metohija i.e. when Pristina marks “significant dates”.
As regards regional cooperation, the National Assembly Speaker believes that we should all turn to cooperation and dialogue. Speaker Stefanovic shared his impressions of the bilateral meetings he had at the Council of Europe in Strasburg with the officials of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro declaring them important steps which would in future lead to more significant cooperation.