SERBIA-MONTENEGRO CAN ONLY TOGETHER JOIN EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION

BELGRADE, June 6 (Hina) - Belgrade and Podgorica can only together approach European associations faster, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, told officials in Belgrade on Friday. #L# Separation is not a way to Europe, he said. After talks with Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic, Solana said he recently heard stories about how the separation of Serbia and Montenegro would accelerate integration with the EU and stressed the EU leaders strongly believed that the country could join the EU only if the community between the two republics remained firm. Earlier this morning the EU senior official held talks with the president of Serbia and Montenegro Svetozar Marovic during which he stressed that the coming EU summit in Salonika was of an extreme importance for Serbia and Montenegro and countries in the region. He said the EU had two objectives -- the drawing closer of the countries in the region to Europe and their mutual dialogue. Solana also met deputy prime ministers of Serbia Nebojsa Covic and Cedomir Jovanovic, the president of Serbia and Montenegro's parliament Dragoljub Micunovic. The EU High Representative will visit Podgorica later today. (hina) it