Dacic: Serbia's progress in EU integration measured in the wrong way

BELGRADE - Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said on Friday Serbia was taking its reform agenda seriously but that its progress in EU integration was conditional upon factors it had no influence on - upon the behaviour of Pristina, which he noted was refusing any compromise and dialogue.

Speaking to Prva TV, Dacic said Serbia's progress in EU integration was measured in the wrong way and that implementation of reforms should be the benchmark.

He noted that conclusions in the new European Commission report on Serbia's progress said Serbia should open new chapters and clusters in the EU accession talks.

"But that is not happening. And why is it not happening? Because, eventually, someone comes and says that is not important and that there is no progress in the dialogue with Pristina. So if it is not important, then why get excited at all about what it (the report) says about something that is not important?" he added.

Serbia should view its interest as a combination of different factors, including continuation of EU integration as well as protection of state and national interests in terms of development and preservation of good relations with friendly countries - above all, with China and Russia, as well as with the large number of countries that do not recognise the so-called Kosovo and are our major economic partners, Dacic said.