Hungary's prime minister visits Belgrade

Hungarian PM Viktor Orban has started his visit to Serbia, during which he will confer with officials on bilateral cooperation and Serbia's EU integration. Orban was welcomed in Belgrade this Friday by Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. Hungary's prime minister visits Belgrade He also meet with Serbian President Boris Tadic who expressed belief that Hungary's assuming of the rotating EU Presidency next January will help Serbia obtain the EU candidate status. Tadic also said that Hungary is giving full support to Serbia in its EU integration process, assessing that the relations between the two countries are good, but that there is room for progress in economic cooperation. At a joint news conference with Tadic, Orban said that Serbia and Hungary have a shared future within the EU and congratulated Serbia on the setting up National Minorities Councils, stressing that Serbs in Hungary "enjoy high reputation". Hungary is to take over the European Union presidency from Belgium on January 1, 2011. One of Hungary's priorities during the presidency period is integration of Western Balkan countries in the EU, said announcements. Tadic and Orban in Belgrade today (Beta) EU ambition, regional cooperation and minority issues Good bilateral cooperation between Belgrade and Budapest will continue, and Hungary, as the country which will take over the rotating EU Presidency in January 2011, will help Serbia on its EU pathway, Serbian and Hungarian prime ministers, Mirko Cvetkovic and Viktor Orban stated. Cvetkovic stressed that the talks on the improvement of relations between the two countries included several topics, among which are Serbia's EU integration, Serbia-Hungary cooperation at the regional level, economic cooperation and minority issues. Cvetkovic underscored that Hungary, as the country which will assume the EU Presidency in January 2011, offered to help Serbia on its EU pathway, adding that he and Orban discussed the possibility of creating a direct line between the two governments so that certain issues could be addressed in the shortest possible period. Regarding the economic cooperation, Cvetkovic said that the trade between the two countries has increased by about 30 percent in the past two years, but that the total trade volume is still very small and that it should be further increased. "Within the improvement of the economic cooperation, we have considered the possibility of holding a joint session of the two governments, possibly in the second half of 2011," Cvetkovic underscored. Orban said that the issue was considered as to why Hungarian investments in Serbia are small and added that members of both governments were instructed to remove obstacles on the road to further development of economic cooperation. The prime ministers concluded that the existence of minorities - the Serb minority in Hungary and the Hungarian one in Serbia - is a good foundation for the improvement of cooperation, particularly at the cultural level. Orban stressed that Hungary sees Serbia as a country which will soon become very successful, as well as the entire Central European region, as it fulfills all conditions for economic development. Orban and Cvetkovic in Belgrade today (Tanjug) "EU integration of Serbia and Croatia important" The European integration of Serbia and Croatia are of extreme importance for Hungary, which, during its forthcoming EU presidency, will make an effort that a positive decision be reached on Croatia's EU accession and that the European perspective remains open to Serbia, Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said. Orban, who arrived here on Friday on a one day visit, underlined in an interview for the Novi Sad daily Dnevnik that Hungary is considering a continuation of EU enlargement negotiations with the aim of opening European perspectives for the West Balkan countries. Hungary borders the West Balkan region, which is why Serbia's and Croatia's European integration are of extreme importance for us, Orban stated. He also emphasized the significance of the Danube Strategy, which has the potential of becoming a truly successful chapter in Europe's history. This purports an elaborate program, from energy-generating products, transport and cultural differences, to opening new work positions and protecting the environment, Orban said and stressed that the strategy would allow for thousands of new work positions to be opened in the whole region. Reviewing the contributions of minorities to the Euro-integration of Serbia, Orban said that the adopted Law on National Minority Councils deserves the attention of Europe, because it is in line with the European tradition of respecting human and community rights.

Hungary's prime minister visits Belgrade

He also meet with Serbian President Boris Tadić who expressed belief that Hungary's assuming of the rotating EU Presidency next January will help Serbia obtain the EU candidate status.

Tadić also said that Hungary is giving full support to Serbia in its EU integration process, assessing that the relations between the two countries are good, but that there is room for progress in economic cooperation.

At a joint news conference with Tadic, Orban said that Serbia and Hungary have a shared future within the EU and congratulated Serbia on the setting up National Minorities Councils, stressing that Serbs in Hungary "enjoy high reputation".

Hungary is to take over the European Union presidency from Belgium on January 1, 2011.

One of Hungary's priorities during the presidency period is integration of Western Balkan countries in the EU, said announcements.

EU ambition, regional cooperation and minority issues

Good bilateral cooperation between Belgrade and Budapest will continue, and Hungary, as the country which will take over the rotating EU Presidency in January 2011, will help Serbia on its EU pathway, Serbian and Hungarian prime ministers, Mirko Cvetković and Viktor Orban stated.

Cvetković stressed that the talks on the improvement of relations between the two countries included several topics, among which are Serbia's EU integration, Serbia-Hungary cooperation at the regional level, economic cooperation and minority issues.

Cvetković underscored that Hungary, as the country which will assume the EU Presidency in January 2011, offered to help Serbia on its EU pathway, adding that he and Orban discussed the possibility of creating a direct line between the two governments so that certain issues could be addressed in the shortest possible period.

Regarding the economic cooperation, Cvetković said that the trade between the two countries has increased by about 30 percent in the past two years, but that the total trade volume is still very small and that it should be further increased.

"Within the improvement of the economic cooperation, we have considered the possibility of holding a joint session of the two governments, possibly in the second half of 2011," Cvetković underscored.

Orban said that the issue was considered as to why Hungarian investments in Serbia are small and added that members of both governments were instructed to remove obstacles on the road to further development of economic cooperation.

The prime ministers concluded that the existence of minorities - the Serb minority in Hungary and the Hungarian one in Serbia - is a good foundation for the improvement of cooperation, particularly at the cultural level.

Orban stressed that Hungary sees Serbia as a country which will soon become very successful, as well as the entire Central European region, as it fulfills all conditions for economic development.

"EU integration of Serbia and Croatia important"

The European integration of Serbia and Croatia are of extreme importance for Hungary, which, during its forthcoming EU presidency, will make an effort that a positive decision be reached on Croatia's EU accession and that the European perspective remains open to Serbia, Hungarian PM Viktor Orban said.

Orban, who arrived here on Friday on a one day visit, underlined in an interview for the Novi Sad daily Dnevnik that Hungary is considering a continuation of EU enlargement negotiations with the aim of opening European perspectives for the West Balkan countries.

Hungary borders the West Balkan region, which is why Serbia's and Croatia's European integration are of extreme importance for us, Orban stated.

He also emphasized the significance of the Danube Strategy, which has the potential of becoming a truly successful chapter in Europe's history.

This purports an elaborate program, from energy-generating products, transport and cultural differences, to opening new work positions and protecting the environment, Orban said and stressed that the strategy would allow for thousands of new work positions to be opened in the whole region.

Reviewing the contributions of minorities to the Euro-integration of Serbia, Orban said that the adopted Law on National Minority Councils deserves the attention of Europe, because it is in line with the European tradition of respecting human and community rights.