Bulgaria backs European future of Western Balkans, says FM

The agreement Serbia and Kosovo reached in April is an important prerequisite for normalizing the relations between the two countries, which should make further efforts to fulfill it effectively, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin said at the meeting of the General Affairs Council, announced the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Kristian Vigenin attended the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council and General Affairs Council between the foreign ministers of the EU member states in Luxembourg.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister said he was in favor of starting EU accession negotiations with Serbia by the end of 2013. At the same time he noted that the government in Belgrade should make further efforts to overcome the economic problems and implement vital reforms in public administration, security sector, rule of law, and policy on the protection of rights of national minorities.

“The European future of the Western Balkans would not be full without Kosovo and the negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement should kick off without any further delay,” he said.