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President Basescu in Belgrad: Romania does not recognise Kosovo independence
President Traian Basescu on Tuesday reiterated that Romania does not recognise Kosovo independence and he underscored that a solution negotiated between Belgrade and Pristina is necessary, one that should offer the Kosovo Serbs the feeling that the Serbian institutions protect them.
'An extremely important thing to us, in the bilateral relation but not only in it, is related to the development of the situation in Kosovo province. Romania did not recognise and it does not recognise Kosovo independence and we believe there should be a negotiated solution by which the Kosovo Serbs should have the feeling that the Serbian institutions serve and protect them', the Romanian leader said in a joint statement with his Serbian counterpart.
Basescu, who is paying a two-day visit to Serbia, stressed there is currently no analysis that should justify why could Romania recognise Kosovo.
'For the moment, we have no analysis that could say Romania should or could recognise Kosovo. We maintain our position expressed from the very beginning of this dispute. We have no positive conditions for Kosovo', said Basescu when asked under what conditions could Romania recognise Kosovo.
There is no connection between adoption of association agreement with Serbia and Vlachs' problem
President Traian Basescu said on Tuesday in Belgrade there is no connection between Romania adopting the association agreement with Serbia and the issue related to the Vlach people.'Romania does not condition the adoption of the association agreement by the resolving of one problem or another, therefore either by the resolving of the problem related to the Vlachs, as a matter of fact this would not be possible, as the European Council meeting will be held on December 9 (when Serbia's application for European Union membership will be examined and its statute decided - editor's note), so there is no time for solving this problem, which I have to admit, has been under debate for a long time. We have raised and will continue raising the problem of the Vlachs who declare themselves Romanians. There is no connection between the ratification of the association agreement and the problem of the Vlachs,' Traian Basescu told a press conference after the meeting with his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic at the Serbia Palace.
Romania's head of state said the problem of the Vlachs could be discussed also from the perspective of the recommendations and observations featuring the Council of Europe's report released in 2011. 'Romania's Deputies' Chamber already ratified the association agreement with Serbia and we hope the Senate will also ratify the agreement in due time in order for Romania to become a solid backer on December 9, by approving the association agreement in the Parliament. So, a backer with no reserves,' Basescu stressed.
In his turn, Boris Tadic underscored the fact that his country respects the right of citizens to declare their nationality. 'We respect the right of our citizens to declare their ethnic background, including the protection of languages. We, as a people, understand the situation of the Romanian people when raising this topic. We have never wanted to impose our citizens their identity,' the Serbian president said.
Boris Tadic said he does not know how does the Romanian model regarding the minorities' rights look like, but in his opinion, every way that is meant to improve the Serbian legislation from this viewpoint is welcomed.
President Traian Basescu along with his wife Maria Basescu arrived on Tuesday in Belgrade, for a state visit paid at the invitation of Serbia's President Boris Tadic. The welcoming ceremony took place at the Serbia Palace, Agerpres correspondent informs.
Romania to support Serbia's option to be part of AGRI project
President Traian Basescu said on Tuesday in Belgrade that he is glad to hear that his Serbian counterpart Boris Tadic wants his country to be part of the AGRI project, saying that Romania will support this option in the relation with the involved partners, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary.
'I would like to say once more that my meetings with President Tadic are, as always, extremely open and I enjoy them for this very reason. It is essential for the bilateral relation to put into practice the economic projects we are talking about and I believe the closest project has also something to do with Serbia joining the AGRI project, a project aiming to sell gas from the Caspian Sea region to the European market. Honestly, I am glad about Serbia's option to be part of this project and I will support its joining, in the relation with the partners in this project, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Hungary, together with Romania,' Basescu told a press conference held jointly with the Serbian counterpart.
Boris Tadic voiced the interest of his country to be part of the AGRI project, saying that the talks held with Basescu targeted also the way the two countries can overcome the economic crisis. President Basescu also said the talks with Tadic also included the Danube strategy. 'The talks held with President Tadic or my friend Boris focus on how to take advantage of the EU decision to develop a Danube Strategy, whose purpose is the economic and social development of the region. The Danube, from its spring in Germany to where it flows in the Black Sea, is intended to be an economic area of great importance for Europe. We can take into account the joint project Portile de Fier III, a major project for both Romania and Serbia,' said Basescu.