Brussels should show that Serbia's steps were not in vain

Serbia has proved that it is absolutely committed to the path towards full EU membership and it would be good if Brussels now showed that Serbia's resolute steps were not in vain, and opened the first negotiation chapters soon, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said during a meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics on Wednesday

"That would encourage our people and show them that the EU wants us to be a part of it and bring them closer to the goal that we want to accomplish - a normal, modern state and better life for all our citizens," said the president of the Republic, the presidential press office said in a statement.

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Rinkevics agreed with Nikolic and expressed hope that the first chapters will be opened very soon as the progress achieved by Serbia in the reform process is obvious.

At the same time, he expressed regret over the fact that this will not happen by mid-year - during Latvia's presidency of the European Union.

Vucic: Serbia has done A LOT on its path towards the EU. It's time for a membership!

PRISTINA SHOULD NOT THINK INDEPENDENCE IS GOAL OF TALKS

Serbia will never recognize Kosovo’s independence, and Pristina should not be encouraged to think that recognition of that independence is the ultimate goal of the dialogue that is underway, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said during a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics.

“Belgrade has entered the dialogue with Pristina in good faith because we are earnestly interested in easing tension and ensuring better living conditions for all citizens in Kosovo-Metohija, something we are also bound by the Constitution to be doing,” Nikolic said.

Brussels: New round of Belgrade-Pristina talks Tuesday

“But Serbia will never recognize the independence of its southern province, and it is not good for anyone to encourage the administration in Pristina to think that it is the final objective of the ongoing dialogue,” the Serbian president stressed.

The Latvian foreign minister commended Belgrade and Pristina for their efforts to normalize relations through dialogue, particularly Belgrade’s active role and sincere desire to overcome the problems related to Kosovo-Metohija.

(Telegraf.co.uk/ Tanjug)