Germany-Serbia

Plain speaking in Belgrade

Published on 22 August 2011 at 13:50

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On the eve of her first visit to Serbia, Tagesspiegel calls on Angela Merkel to speak "quite frankly" with authorities in Belgrade about the conditions for the former Yugoslavian republic’s inclusion in the EU. As the Berlin daily explains, Merkel is to arrive in Belgrade in the wake of official meetings in Croatia, which is now scheduled to join the EU in 2013. "Merkel’s visit to Belgrade will be a lot more tense", notes Tagesspiegel, because until Europe recognises Kosovo, "there will be no rapid progress in the development of Serbian-EU relations." Arguing that "Merkel should frankly deliver this message," Tagesspiegel also insists that Europe should integrate the victims of Serbian separatist wars and "bring the former orphans into the fold."

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