Serbian Parliament Speaker Visiting Slovenia

Ljubljana, 19 July

Serbian Parliament Speaker Oliver Dulic payed a working visit to Slovenia for meetings with his counterpart France Cukjati, Prime Minister Janez Jansa, deputy groups leaders and parliamentary EU Affairs Committee chair Anton Kokalj.

Received by his Slovenian counterpart France Cukjati in Ljubljana on Thursday, Serbian Parliament Speaker Oliver Dulic said that the latest UN draft resolution on Kosovo was unacceptable for Serbia, because it proposed that the issue be solved through the Kosovo Contact Group and not the UN Security Council. "We are in favour of any agreement or talks leading to a new framework that would define the future relations between Belgrade and Pristina with a great degree of Kosovo autonomy, which might not yet exist. However, Serbia needs to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity to protect the international law." Dulic said. Dulic presented to Cukjati the contents of the resolution on Kosovo that Serbia's parliament is expected to adopt at a special session on 24 July. In the resolution, Serbia "demands of the international community to respect international law in terms of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states," Dulic said.
Apart from the Kosovo issue, the speakers also discussed cooperation between the parliaments. Among concrete proposals for cooperation, Cukjati and Dulic highlighted the possibility of experts from Belgrade visiting Ljubljana to become acquainted with the technical aspects of the Slovenian parliament. He also stressed Slovenia would be of great importance to Serbia during its time at the helm of the bloc in the first half of 2008. Serbia expects to sign the Association and Stabilisation Agreement with the EU by the end of this year, or possibly during Slovenia's presidency.
Dulic also met Prime Minister Janez Jansa. They agreed that bilateral relations had been developing positively and were particularly strong in trade. They also shared the opinion that there was mutual interest to further strengthen cooperation, to which strong ties between both parliaments can contribute. The PM stressed the positive development of events in Serbia after parliamentary elections and in the formation of the new cabinet. He also said that during its Presidency of the EU in the first half of 2008, Slovenia will devote particular attention to making the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans more concrete. The PM and his Serbian guest also discussed the status of Kosovo. They agreed that a final solution must ensure long-term peace and stability in the region. PM Janez Jansa said he was convinced that such a solution lies only within a shared European future for Serbia and Kosovo.

Serbian Parliament Speaker Visiting Slovenia

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