December 01, 2009

The lifting of visa regime for the Serbian citizens, as adopted by the EU Council of Ministers, as well as the commencement of the process in The Hague relating to the unilateral proclamation of Kosmet independence are the dominating topics in today’s press in Serbia. Zorica Regeljac has more.

All Serbian media write on their front pages with great excitement about the cancelation of visas for travels to the EU, for the citizens of Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro, after almost two decades of waiting, The journals also quote the statement of President Boris Tadic who said Brussels that it is a great day for Serbia, because 20 years ago our citizens were able to travel without visas. At that time, all members of former Yugoslavia, whose fall-apart started in early 1990s, were able to travel around the world unhindered by visas, but the younger generations have not felt that possibility, the press reminds. Under the headlines such as “Las wall of sanctions falling”, “Great day for the region” and “Free at last”, the DANAS, VECERNJE NOVOSTI, POLITIKA and BLIC report that this act will allow our citizens to finally travel to 25 EU countries, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland. Also included in the travels without visas are Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus ,and the dailies write that it is but the first step in the full integrations with the EU, because without the membership in the “white Schengen list” it is impossible to reach the membership in the Union, the BLIC underlines. The daily especially points to a large number of airplane companies with affordable prices, which will additionally make the Serbian citizens happy.

Also emphasized in the Serbian print is the commencement of the International Court of Justice session, regarding the self-proclaimed independence of Kosmet. In that view, the POLITIKA prints the interview with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, who stresses that in case of new negotiations opening, a solution must be found that will not produce complete losers on one side and winners on the other, as well as that both Belgrade and Pristina will have to make concessions. He emphasized that a day after the advisory opinion of the court is of the utmost importance for Serbia, since there is a possibility of some parties trying to give random interpretations to the stance of the International Court. Jeremic has assessed that he expects the outcome to be such that it will not be too difficult to strengthen our interpretation  as the prevailing in the international arena. He also expressed hope that the court will come out with an opinion that will be in line with Serbia’s stand, i.e. that the proclaimed independence is in discord with the international law, Jeremic emphasized for the POLITIKA. 

The DANAS daily deals with the same topic, so it prints the comment of Vojin Dimitrijevic, an expert for the international law, who believes that the court in The Hague will not recommend the division of Kosmet, but it might come into consideration as a consequence of the diplomatic process that will follow. He pointed out that in case of advisory opinion saying that the unilateral proclamation of independence is in discord with the international law for one reason or another, it would then strengthen the position of Serbia that a solution should be found in the international domain, in order to decrease the possibility of future conflicts, and with concessions from all sides involved.