"Belgrade is Europe's gate toward Balkans"

"Belgrade is Europe's gate toward Balkans"

"Belgrade is the gate of Europe toward the Balkans and the EU cannot long survive without Serbia and Belgrade. It would be as if someone placed a door to the east beyond a fence," Orban, who is on an official visit to Serbia, has been quoted as saying.

He added that it was in Hungary's interest that "each and every of its neighbors joins the EU" - because this was "a way to achieve absolute safety of his country."

"Our goal is that every nation and people feel Europe is their home. The Serbian people, as part of a large European family and of European cultural heritage, want to belong to this community," according to Orban.

He added that the Hungarian government "supports the efforts of Serbia on the European road."

"It's not a question of current politics, but a principled stance and a moral obligation that we have, thanks to the common history and roots in Central Europe," said the head of the Hungarian government.

President Nikolić said that the political dialogue between Belgrade and Budapest has been "intensified" during the past two years "on the highest, and on a high level."

"I am confident that the talks during the summit will contribute to deepening of political, economic, cultural and all other forms of cooperation between Serbia and Hungary," Nikolić said, referring to a joint session of the two governments that will be held in Belgrade on Tuesday.

Nikolić said that a significant boost tothe improved dialogue and strengthening of cooperation in all areas of common interest came from the visits of the two countries' presidents, especially last year's visit of Hungarian President Janos Ader, when they jointly paid homage to innocent Serb and Hungarian WW2 victims in Čurog.

"We then reached agreement on all issues, and I now repeat our commitment to turn to the future and turn a new historical page in our relations," he said, adding that "our view of the past in which Serbia and Hungary were sometimes on the same, and sometimes on opposing sides," must also be in this spirit.

The Serbian president then said that Serbia and Hungary, because of the geographic space they share are turned toward each other and have built "strong historical and cultural ties, and today the two countries are also bound by a shared vision of the European future of the region."

"Your consistent support for the realization of our aspirations to EU membership is extremely valuable," Nikolić told Orban.

The two officials expressed satisfaction over the opening of the Department of Culture at the Hungarian embassy, ​​which will be the headquarters of the Cultural Institute of Balassi - "the Hungarian Collegium of Belgrade."

Orban said that the reason to open the cultural institutions was "self-evident", since Belgrade has for centuries been the capital of culture and the meeting place of peoples and religions.

"Two nations can learn about each other, and for us Hungarians it is very important that they also come to love each other," said Orban, adding that Hungary was "committed to each nation successfully preserving their cultural identity in Europe."

Nikolić said that contemporary art, education and science in both countries had their roots in a common past, which, according to him, is confirmed by the fact that the oldest literary, cultural and scientific institution of the Serbian people - Matica Srpska - was founded in 1826 in Budapest.

"We are grateful to Hungary for the sincere support to Serbia's European integration, particularly for the solidarity during the catastrophic floods," Nikolić said earlier in the day, adding that the two countries were "historically linked by the struggle against big conquerors," while the first half of the 20th century - "in which we were at war" - should be "left to memories, and we should turn to the future."

Nikolić said that the Hungarian minority in Vojvodina represents a link between two friendly nations and to build continuity of good relations of mutual interest, according to a statement from his press service.

Orban said his country was "declaratively and essentially" in favor of Serbia's full-fledged membership in the European Union.

"We politicians know that there is no situation without a problem, but that we can choose between the bigger and the smaller problem. EU membership brings many benefits, but one should be aware that there are problems, as well," noted Orban.

Hungary had its own model of overcoming the economic crisis and had a lot of problems because of this, Orban stressed, adding that this model proved to be "good and realistic."

Hungary and Serbia should constantly promote bilateral relations in the fields of economy, investment, cross-border cooperation, culture, and many others, the Hungarian prime minister concluded.

After his meeting with Nikolić, Orban, who is leading his government's delegation, arrived at the Palace of Serbia where he was welcomed with highest state honors by his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vučić.