Djuric: Western Balkans should join Schengen area as soon as possible

TRIESTE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Tuesday Serbia had an interest in the Western Balkans joining the Schengen area as soon as possible as that would mean considerably fewer political and ethnic tensions in the region.

Speaking to reporters in Trieste, where he is attending the 30th anniversary commemorations of the establishment of the Central European Initiative (CEI) Executive Secretariat, Djuric said Serbia's main message was that it was a part of the solution to problems in the region and in Europe and that it was key to regional stability.

"Serbia is really a part of the solution. It does not only account for 53 per cent of the regional economy - Serbia is key to stability in the entire region. With eight countries immediately on its borders, with a vital interest in opening up borders to free movement of goods, people, capital and services," Djuric said.

In a changed European environment, cooperation and strengthening ties are needed more than ever, Djuric said, noting that he had pointed out in Trieste that the region's soonest possible admission to the Schengen area was in Serbia's interest.

Taking the region into the area would also be good for acceleration of EU integration, he added.

"We have no external borders outside the EU and the Schengen area, which means that illegal migration can no longer enter via the Balkans, and admitting the region to the Schengen area would reduce the external borders of the Schengen area by 20 per cent. That means that police troops that are used for that could be used elsewhere, for example, on the EU's actual external borders. For our region, that would mean free movement of people, considerably fewer political tensions, considerably fewer ethnic tensions and greater focus on economic development," Djuric noted.

Trieste is a potentially important port city for Serbia, whose economy is growing, he said.

"For that reason, we are also interested in revitalising, and expediting the development of, transport corridors connecting us with Trieste," Djuric said.

Djuric: Italy has understanding for Serbia

TRIESTE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Tuesday that, during discussions held as part of a Central European Initiative (CEI) conference in Trieste, he had pointed to the difficult position of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs and that, once again, Italy had demonstrated that it had understanding for Serbia, including when it comes to sensitive national issues.

Djuric especially thanked the head of the Italian Senate's foreign affairs committee Stefania Craxi, who he said had "touched upon the difficult position of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija and also mentioned the words of our Patriarch Porfirije on that topic."

Speaking to reporters after attending the first panel at the conference - which commemorated the 30th anniversary of the CEI - Djuric said that he had noted that Italian troops had been guarding the Serbian Orthodox monastery of Visoki Decani in Kosovo-Metohija for decades now. Djuric said he had also had a brief meeting with Italian Deputy PM and FM Antonio Tajani that had confirmed Italy was one of Serbia's most dependable partners in the EU and one of its firmest supporters on the EU path.

"Italy is a country that has understanding for us also when it comes to some of our sensitive national topics. That is why I am pleased that we were here, and that we are here today. We will be fighting for Serbia's voice to be heard and for Serbia to be presented and perceived even more as what it really is - a country with high potential, and as the key part of the answer to the question of how Europe can again become a region of success," Djuric said.

He said an exhibition about the 18 ancient Roman emperors who had been born in the territory of present-day Serbia would be opened in Trieste in the afternoon.

"It is very important to also remind the international public of that. That is another historical tie between us and Italy," Djuric said.