Serbian President Boris Tadic said Wednesday that he took pride in the fact that the European Commission (EC) had qualified as successful Serbia's reforms so far.

Tadic also underlined that the EC recommendation that Serbia be granted candidate status in December provided that the country continued the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, implied exactly what Serbia had been hoping for - that the dialogue be continued and that the issue be resolved.

"I take pride in the fact that the EC has qualified as very successful the reforms Serbia has carried out, and particularly because it got good marks in sensitive fields such as fight against organised crime, corruption and judiciary. The people in Serbia should also be proud," Tadic told journalists.

President Tadic is confident that Serbia will be granted the candidate status in December and that conditions will be provided for setting the date for the start of accession talks.

He stressed that the EC recommendation did not mean all of Serbia's problems had been solved.
"We have a lot of work to do in reform implementation, because the candidate status opens up many possibilities, even access to EU funds," he pointed out.

The EC recommendation is an important economic signal to investors because it says Serbia is on a steady course towards EU integration, the president noted.

According to him, optimism is called for when it comes to Serbia's European future, but there is no need for euphoria.

Commenting on the EC's request to resume the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Tadic stated it was precisely what Serbia had wanted all along.

"Serbia even started the talks together with the EU countries, by proposing a joint resolution to the UN General Assembly. Serbia wishes to settle the issues at the administrative checkpoints and wants a realistic solution," Tadic remarked.

However, Serbia has certain principles regarding territorial integrity it is not going to give up on, but that does not mean it is impossible to find a political solution to the crisis, as long as the other side has the will to do so, he added.

"The EU's role in the process is decisive, and Mr Frattini (Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini) and other European leaders can help find a solution acceptable to both sides," he explained.