"I don't think Croatia will block us, but I expect occasional obstacles. After all, Croatia is bound by a resolution of its parliament that it will not block the EU path of candidate countries in the region," Joksimovic told the press in Belgrade.
Commenting on the remark that the European Parliament was expected next week to adopt a resolution on Serbia's progress in the European integration process, into which Zagreb was trying to include several new requirements for Belgrade to meet, the minister said that she was soon going to Strasbourg where she would present further arguments in favour of Serbia's position.
"I expect the final text to be balanced. Many of the Croatian amendments were rejected because they were unfounded. Serbia and Prime Minister Vucic have demonstrated several times, including his attendance at the inauguration of the new Croatian president, that we are committed to building better relations," Joksimovic told Vecernje Novosti daily.
Asked if she had an impression that Serbia was being set new conditions all the time and that the key condition would be its recognition of Kosovo, its former province, Joksimovic said that she had never heard any European official make such a demand.
"After all, five EU members have not recognised Kosovo's independence. It's true that the EU insists that the process of normalisation of relations with Pristina should be running in parallel with negotiations on other areas. We can't avoid that, but we are not just sitting around doing nothing. We are trying to do as much as we can through dialogue, first and foremost for the interests of the Serbs in Kosovo," she concluded.