First Brussels Reactions on Elections In Serbia

European Union Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Solana stated he hoped Serbia would get a democratic and pro-European government.

First meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers of EU members under German presiding was held only a day after parliamentary elections in Serbia, therefore a reaction of the Council of Ministers is expected.

In his first reactions to election findings in Serbia, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Javier Solana expressed his hope it would now be possible to form a democratic and pro-European government in Serbia. He expects permanent member representatives will draw up a report based on the election results, and the Council of Ministers will discuss it over lunch and adopt a conclusion. But, concrete decisions on the further EU engagement are expected only during the next Council of Ministers meeting on the 13^th of next month.

Although the EU usually does not care to comment on elections in other countries, in Serbia`s case the result was important, because of it depends how will relations between the EU and Serbia develop in the future, first of all, will the new Belgrade government prepare the fulfilment of conditions for the continuation of negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, and above all a full co-operation with The Hague Tribunal is required. Besides that, the elections play a key role for Kosovo which has been under UN government since 1999. Exactly because of that, the EU keeps a close eye and analyses the course of elections and election findings in Serbia, explain diplomatic sources in Brussels. Anyway, formation of a pro-European government in Belgrade would alleviate the relations between the EU and Serbia, they stress in Brussels.

EU starting point is that president Ahtisaari will present his proposal for Kosovo at the beginning of next month, probably on the 2^nd of February, after which a longer period of negotiations will commence, which is why it is important who will the negotiator in Belgrade be, diplomatic sources inform Deutche Welle.