Kocijancic: Rama's visit welcome

BRUSSELS - Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's visit to Serbia would be welcome despite the recent incidents during a soccer match in Belgrade, Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, said in Brussels on Thursday.

We believe that Rama's visit to Serbia would be welcome in terms of continuing the process of reconciliation and improving cooperation in the region, Kocijancic told reporters.

She declined to comment on media allegations that Brussels is pressuring Belgrade and Tirana to ensure that the visit goes ahead despite the barbs traded in the wake of the incident.

Our position is clear: the visit should go ahead because it is in everyone's interest and in line with the obligations undertaken by Serbia and Albania as candidate countries, Kocijancic told Tanjug's reporter.

Responding to persistent pleas by reporters from Kosovo and Albania that the European Commission condemn the chauvinist chants by Serbian supporters and an alleged manhandling of the Albanian delegation, she reiterated Wednesday's statement that there is no room for politics in sports stands and that the Serbian authorities acted professionally during the game.

Dennis Abbott, spokesperson of the commissioner for education, culture and youth, said that an investigation into who is responsible for the incidents should be conducted by UEFA, with whom the European Commission has an agreement on cooperation.

It is not our job to give red cards and judge who should apologise to whom, and no one covered themselves in glory at the Belgrade match, he said.

Unfortunately, the problem of racism, chauvinism and violence is present at many sports events and...

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