PM tells "Friends of Serbia" chapters should be opened soon

PM tells "Friends of Serbia" chapters should be opened soon

"We did everything we could," Vucic told reporters after attending the "Friends of Serbia" gathering in Brussels on Monday. The meeting was also attended by 20 foreign ministers of EU member states and eight of their deputies and secretaries of state.

Co-host of the meeting Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz "congratulated Serbia on the positive and significant reforms" and added that "it was not good" that the country has not opened any of the chapters a year and a half after the start of EU accession negotiations.

"We want to support Serbia on its European path, and today we see that we have the support of our colleagues from the EU," said Kurz.

Another co-host, Italian FM Paolo Gentiloni, said that "everyone acknowledges Serbia's constructive role in the efforts to preserve stability in the Western Balkans, as well as its non-dogmatic and pragmatic approach to solving problems."

Vucic said that this meeting was "a great opportunity for Serbia to, using arguments and facts, show what has been achieved over the past year and a half."

"We presented the results economic reforms and today we have not heard any critical word about them," said Vucic, but added that it was said "some parts of the Brussels agreement are yet to be implemented."

"We will of course continue to work on that, but we asked the EU to look at the bigger picture," said Vucic.

He added that it was "repeated several times during the gathering" that Serbia was "the pillar of stability in the region."

"We asked that chapters be opened well before the end of the year. We've done a lot, and we'll do more to achieve more results," he stressed, adding that it was "very positive that as many as 11 ministers from the EU, plus the two hosts" took part in the discussion during today's meeting.

Vucic added he expected the EU "to reward the efforts that have so far been made regarding the European integration."

"We hope that the EU will reward not the Serbian government, but the people who deserve a better future," said Vucic.

Asked whether the meeting today heard any "comments" regarding last week's visit to Belgrade of Russian Foreign Minister Segei Lavrov, Vucic said, "that has been discussed."

"There was talk about the harmonization of our foreign policy with the European," said Vucic, adding that Serbia is very well aware of its obligations towards the EU - but also wants to preserve its good relations with Russia.

"Everyone here knows that and we have nothing to hide," concluded Vucic.