Czech FM visit Serbia

Foreign ministers of Serbia and the Czech Republic, Vuk Jeremić and Karel Schwarzenberg, met on Tuesday in Belgrade.

They said that the Council of the EU decision to allow Serbia to move forward with its EU integration was very important for Serbia, and that the two countries saw it as their joint success.

The General Affairs Council of the EU decided in Luxembourg on Monday to ask the European Commission to prepare an opinion on Serbia’s readiness to begin accession negotiations.

Jeremić stated after the meeting that a very complicated period lies before Serbia. The country will have to do a lot of work, and it will need seriousness and dedication to reach the EU, he noted.

Schwarzenberg thinks that the council decision opened the door to the EU for Serbia. He pointed out the benefits of EU membership, like new jobs and better economic and security situation, all based on his country’s experience.

Jeremić said Serbia would do everything to get the status of a candidate for EU membership as soon as possible. He hopes that will happen during 2011.

Schwarzenberg is on a one-day visit to Serbia. He is set to meet with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković.