Serbia's goal is to join EU "as soon as possible" - FM

Serbia's goal is to join EU "as soon as possible" - FM

Implementing reforms and forging infrastructural ties at regional level are interests shared by all Western Balkan states, Dacic said at an annual meeting of foreign ministers of the Central European Initiative (CEI) member states in Ohrid, Macedonia.

The CEI is a "bridge" between EU member states and candidate and aspiring countries, a statement from the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted Dacic as saying.

Four years after the Serbian CEI chairmanship, many of the proposals it actively backed are a reality, Dacic said.

Among them I would like to highlight the conclusion of the procedure of granting the CEI observer status in the UN General Assembly, establishment of CEI NGO networks, as well as the strengthening of the business dimension of the CEI, he said.

I believe that additional efforts must be made to revive this regional initiative as a forum for high-level discussions on political and economic issues, said Dacic, who added, in his capacity as OSCE chairperson-in-office, that there is intensified cooperation between the OSCE and the CEI. (end) ljm/rd