Venizelos brings message of support to Belgrade

ATHENS/BELGRADE - Evangelos Venizelos, Foreign Minister of Greece as the current chair of the EU Council of Ministers, stated that he has come to Belgrade to bring the message of encouragement and support to the country's further EU integration and internal reforms.

He said that he has come as vice prime minister and foreign minister of Greece to reaffirm the excellent ties of friendship and cooperation which the two countries have been maintaining for years on end, Venizelos said in an interview for Tanjug ahead of the Monday meeting with Belgrade officials.

He recalled that Athens has always been giving strong support to the enlargement of the EU over which it holds the rotating presidency for the fifth time, adding that his country remains firmly committed to the vision of a European perspective for all Western Balkan countries and intends to continue actively working on the implementation of the enlargement strategy.

As long-term and fervent supporters of Serbia's EU path and the chair of the Council of Ministers of the EU, Greece recognises major progress and important achievements Serbia has made on its EU path, Venizelos said.

He noted that the official opening of accession talks between Serbia and the EU (on January 21) was a very important historic moment for Serbia, the entire Western Balkan region and the Greek presidency over the EU Council of Ministers.

We are looking forward to a stable progress of the talks in the future and Greece intends to keep supporting Serbia's efforts in terms of EU membership, improvement of EU-Serbia economic ties and strengthening of EU the principles and values in the Western Balkan region, including good neighbourly relations, Venizelos said.

He noted that...