Johannes Hahn

"Serbia under no obligation, but should join sanctions"

BERLIN -- Germany "does not agree with the European Commission's position that Serbia, as a candidate, has a legal obligation to introduce sanctions against Russia."

The EU's foreign policy chief did not raise any criticism or proposals for the alignment of Turkey's foreign policy with the EU, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said, in reply to remarks by Federica Mogherini.

BELGRADE - Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said that Serbia is not giving up either the EU accession or the position that Kosovo is a part of Serbia.

"At this point, nobody is setting such questions before us to which we would need to reply," Dacic told Radio and Television of Serbia on Monday evening.

EU wants "greater alignment" from Turkey

ANKARA -- The EU and Turkey need greater "alignment" on foreign policy "to tackle threats including Islamic State," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has said.

The European Union and Turkey have drifted apart on foreign policy and need greater "alignment" to tackle threats including Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the EU's foreign policy chief said on Dec. 8.

Ankara has called on the EU to “make visible” the dialogue between Ankara and Brussels, by inviting Turkish leaders to EU meetings and taking them into EU family photographs.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini is due to meet Turkish leaders an an attempt to secure Ankara's support for the fight against Islamic State (IS) and sanctions against Russia.

According to her own Twitter account Mogherini is also to touch the issue of Turkey's EU accession which has been blocked for years now by the stalled negotiation process.

New European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini was to meet Turkish leaders Dec. 8 for talks expected to focus partly on the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in neighboring Syria.

"The Syrian crisis is going to be one of the key issues on her agenda," an EU official told AFP on Dec. 8. Turkey's EU membership ambitions were also up for discussion.

President again says EU will seek "recognition of Kosovo"

BELGRADE -- Tomislav Nikolic says he "knows for certain" that Serbia will be faced with a choice: either Kosovo or EU membership.

The Serbian president spoke during the weekend to add that the country "must be prepared for this."

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic stated on Saturday that he knows for certain that Serbia will be faced with a choice: either Kosovo or Europe, adding that the country has to be prepared for this.