"Time for EU to respond to Serbia's expectations"

Portuguese FM Luis Amado says the time has come for the EU to respond to the expectations of Serbia to become a candidate for membership by year's end.

Izvor: Tanjug

Wednesday, 23.03.2011.

10:51

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Portuguese FM Luis Amado says the time has come for the EU to respond to the expectations of Serbia to become a candidate for membership by year's end. Amado, who is on a two-day visit to Belgrade, said in a statement for Tanjug on Tuesday that Portugal has always defended and supported Serbia's European integration because it is very important for the region to have Serbia as a full member in the future. "Time for EU to respond to Serbia's expectations" Portugal believes that now is the time for the EU to respond to the expectations of the Serbian government to become a candidate by the end of the year. Portugal will support Serbia and will see later this year what are the prospects for getting a unanimous support of the EU Council, he said. He added that this process has not been easy, but that it is good for Serbia, the Balkan region and Europe to have stabilized relations. Serbia and Portugal, he said, have had very good and dynamic political relations, and will continue working on the development of economic cooperation. Portuguese and Serbian companies have not closely followed the excellent relations that have developed over decades at the political level, Amado said, adding that he used his visit to try to encourage the development of economic relations. Banking, energy, infrastructure and construction sectors are areas where there are very good opportunities to develop stronger partnership between Portuguese and Serbian companies, he said. When it comes to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Amado said that the process will greatly affect the stability of the region and Europe in the future and that Lisbon expects that this dialogue will be very constructive for the ultimate goal of Serbia becoming a full EU member. This is Amado's fourth visit to Serbia. Previously, he came twice as foreign minister, and once as minister of defense. He added that Portuguese prime minister also intends to visit the region and Serbia. During his visit to Belgrade, Amado met with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, his counterpart Vuk Jeremic, Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac and parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic. Luis Amado (Beta)

"Time for EU to respond to Serbia's expectations"

Portugal believes that now is the time for the EU to respond to the expectations of the Serbian government to become a candidate by the end of the year. Portugal will support Serbia and will see later this year what are the prospects for getting a unanimous support of the EU Council, he said.

He added that this process has not been easy, but that it is good for Serbia, the Balkan region and Europe to have stabilized relations.

Serbia and Portugal, he said, have had very good and dynamic political relations, and will continue working on the development of economic cooperation.

Portuguese and Serbian companies have not closely followed the excellent relations that have developed over decades at the political level, Amado said, adding that he used his visit to try to encourage the development of economic relations.

Banking, energy, infrastructure and construction sectors are areas where there are very good opportunities to develop stronger partnership between Portuguese and Serbian companies, he said.

When it comes to the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, Amado said that the process will greatly affect the stability of the region and Europe in the future and that Lisbon expects that this dialogue will be very constructive for the ultimate goal of Serbia becoming a full EU member.

This is Amado's fourth visit to Serbia. Previously, he came twice as foreign minister, and once as minister of defense.

He added that Portuguese prime minister also intends to visit the region and Serbia.

During his visit to Belgrade, Amado met with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković, his counterpart Vuk Jeremić, Minister of Defense Dragan Šutanovac and parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović.

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