Pahor assures Vučić of Slovenia’s further support for region’s EU path

Vipava – President Borut Pahor assured his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vučić on Monday of Slovenia’s continued support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans. At the start of Vučić’s working visit to Slovenia, Pahor said that in order to ensure peace and stability, leaders in the region must be careful not to escalate the situation.

Right before hosting Vučić for a working dinner in Zemono Manor near Vipava in western Slovenia, Pahor noted that since the start of the war in Ukraine, the situation in the Western Balkans had also become more sensitive.

He thinks that “as long as things are sensitive and cause so much concern, there is also a responsibility on the part of the leaders of all the countries in the region not to take any step or make any statement that would undermine trust between the countries or that would exacerbate the situation as a result”.

He also believes that “there is enough between us to bind us together”.

Slovenia remains an advocate of accelerating the EU’s enlargement process, especially now when this has become a geopolitical issue, as this would contribute to peace and security, the Slovenian president told Vučić as quoted by Pahor’s office.

Vučić thanked Slovenia for its steadfast support for Serbia in the latter’s EU accession efforts, urging a path to the EU integration for the entire Western Balkans.

During their working dinner, the pair will also discuss the countries’ positions on the war in Ukraine.

Vučić’s visit to Slovenia is the president’s first trip abroad after he was re-elected in early April. At the time, Pahor congratulated Vučić on his re-election in a “lengthy and friendly telephone conversation”. The two also stressed the importance of mutual trust and the continuation of excellent relations between Slovenia and Serbia.

Prior to today’s meeting, Pahor and Vučić last met in Belgrade in November 2021, where Pahor reiterated Slovenia’s support for the EU accession of the Western Balkan countries. He assessed that the enlargement process was too slow, adding this had led to the re-emergence of nationalist views that threaten peace and security.

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