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Serbian MFA in Riga: our strategic goal is EU membership

BC, Riga, 11.12.2014.Print version
During a joint press conference with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics (Unity) in Riga yesterday evening, Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said that Serbia's strategic goal is to join the European Union, informs LETA.

Ivica Dacic and Edgars Rinkevics. Riga, 10.12.2014. Photo: flickr.com

During the press conference, Rinkevics said that he and Minister Dacic discussed a wide variety of matters, including Latvia's upcoming EU presidency, as well as Serbia's intentions when it takes over the presidency of the OSCE next year.

 

''We have similar views on many matters currently on the agenda. Of course we are interested in close cooperation with Serbia in solving the Ukraine crisis, as well as matters related to our priorities in Central Asia, where the OSCE has a huge role,'' said Rinkevics. ''We have agreed to coordinate our actions during our presidency periods next year in regard to Central Asia,'' the minister added.

 

Rinkevics pointed out that one of the main matters discussed during the meeting were solutions to the Ukraine crisis, as well as Serbia's EU integration efforts.

 

''As an EU candidate country, we must adapt to the EU's common security policy, and we intend to do this. However, we also have a special relationship with Moscow, but this will not hinder our relations with the EU,'' said Dacis, adding that EU memberships is Serbia's ''strategic'' goal.

 

Rinkevics also made a commitment to work, during Latvia's presidency of the Council of the EU, towards the opening of the first chapters in Serbia's negotiations for accession to the EU and noted that candidate countries should work toward harmonizing their foreign policies with the position of the EU. Foreign Minister Dacic thanked Latvia for supporting Serbia's integration with the EU.






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