BRUSSELS - The first chapters in Serbia's EU accession process should not be opened before the beginning of the next year, Tanjug learnt from diplomatic sources in Brussels. The current mood among member countries is that additional efforts are still needed in the implementation of the Brussels agreement before an intergovernmental conference on the opening of chapters can be organised, Tanjug learnt in the EU seat. According to the sources, most member countries agree with Germany's stand that the intergovernmental conference should not be organised before full implementation of the provisi

“Serbia reaffirmed its independence and sovereignty in decision-making by implementing its serious and responsible policy, and our job is to persevere, because that is the best for our citizens. Therefore, we will not change our position towards Russia and I am confident that it will not jeopardize our European road,” said Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, who in recent months was exposed to the pressures of some Western countries to join the sanctions against the Kremlin. Whether our country can truly stand aside in the vortex of a new Cold War?

If Serbia would impose sanctions against Russia, it would “shot itself in the foot.” Such a decision could bring only "suicidal politician" because Serbia wouldn’t have any benefits from it, but only huge damage, says in an interview Aleksandar Chepurin, Russian Ambassador to Serbia. “The measures against Russia were introduced only by thirty countries out of the 193 UN member states, and none of them is member of the BRIKS. Most of your neighbours did not do so. However, those that did are faced with the Russian counter-sanctions and they realized what they had done.

Further European integration of Serbia is impossible until Belgrade and Pristina reach agreement, indicated Serbian experts on international issues. Analyst Dusan Janjic says that Serbia will have to resolve the issues that Germany insists on, including the fulfilment of the Brussels agreement, and adoption of a second framework agreement between Belgrade and Pristina.

Analyst Dusan Janjic said that Oliver Ivanovic, will have to await the establishment of a special unit, which is assumed to be formed by the end of the year, but says that he would not be surprised if it would happen in the spring. Janjic said that formally there are two explanations of why Ivanovic will likely go directly from custody to the trial. "One reason is because of his safety, and the other is a threat to the future course of the investigation.

The establishment of a special court for KLA crimes depends on the pace of the formation of new Kosovo government, which should sign an agreement on the establishment probably with the Netherlands, where will be located a part of the court. Decision on the establishment of the Court brought previous composition of the Kosovo Assembly in late April, and it is expected that the Court will start working in 2015. However, the organization, jurisdiction and the way of functioning are still in the sphere of assumptions.

 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Kosovo authorities and the EU to ensure that a special court will be formed no later than early next year, which would deal with the issue of war crimes allegedly committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in Kosovo in 1999.

The Chairman of the Committee for Kosovo and Metohija of the Serbian Assembly, Milovan Drecun said that there are many questions that need to be open in the area of normalization of relations, but it is obvious that the intention of Pristina is to slow down the process, particularly when it comes to the Community of Serbian municipalities (ZSO). "The key question is when the executive power in Pristina will be formed.

“It is required to create the political basis for the establishment of Community of Serbian municipalities (ZSO) by adopting the statute, which is only possible through political agreements and negotiations with the political force that will be the backbone of the future government in Pristina. I expect that participation of now legitimately elected representatives of the Serbian people in provincial institutions will contribute to direct talks between us and Kosovo Albanians about the things that were already discussed in Brussels.

From 1 January, when Serbia starts presiding over the OSCE, a hot chair will await our representatives, unless the tensions about reheated cold war calm down.