Serbia's First Deputy Prime Minister responsible for defence, security and the fight against corruption and crime and Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vucic said today that Serbia wants the best possible relations with Germany and the EU, although that involves some hard decisions. Speaking at a press conference held after the meeting with German Minister of Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle, Vucic recalled that in the past six months our country has made some difficult steps and repeated his belief that Germany respects what Serbia has done so far.

The First Deputy Prime Minister noted that Serbia wants progress of dynamic relations with Germany and its people and that it wants Serbian citizens to have everything that citizens of other states have.

Westerwelle underlined that Germany will not desist from the criteria set, but it will not impose new conditions to Serbia on its path to the EU.

He said that Germany strongly supports constructive dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina under the EU auspices and that for the entire process it is important that visible and sustainable progress is made. 

According to him, Germany is truly interested in Serbia’s progress towards the EU, but the next step, i.e. obtaining the date for start of negotiations, depends on the outcome of dialogue in Brussels.

Westerwelle stated that Berlin will define its position regarding the date for start of negotiations with Serbia after the report of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, which is announced for April.