The European Union failed to reach consensus on Monday on signing with Serbia a trade and aid pact but would invited Serbia to sign an interim trade agreement on Feb. 7, after next Sunday's presidential election runoff.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said at a press conference after a meeting of EU foreign ministers that the ministers agreed to sign an interim agreement with Belgrade on cooperation in trade and visas.
"This is a text that will open up doors for Serbia to the EU," said Rupel, whose country holds the current rotating EU presidency.
A Stabilization and Association Agreement had been expected to be signed on Monday between the EU and Serbia, but the EU foreign ministers failed to persuade the Netherlands to agree on signing it.
The Dutch demanded that Serbia first achieve full cooperation with the U.N. war crimes tribunal on the former Yugoslavia by helping hand over suspected war criminals.
The signing of an interim trade deal would help enhance Serbia's pro-European President Boris Tadic in the election run-off against nationalist rival Tomislav Nikolic, diplomats here said. Nikolic led by five points in last Sunday's first round of elections.
The EU has attempted to lure Serbia into dropping its opposition to Kosovo's declaration of independence by offering Belgrade a fast-track course towards EU membership. Signing the SAA is the first formal step to the goal.
Source: Xinhua
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