Croatian Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Gordan Jandrokovic said in Belgrade on Friday it was Croatia's wish that all Southeast European countries followed its path towards the European Union, as it led to the stability and progress of the region.
"We believe that membership of the EU, including the prospects and the negotiations which change the societies and the states in this region, is the best guarantee of the stability and long term progress of all states in Southeast Europe," Jandrokovic told press on the fringes of a Serbia-EU forum.
He said Croatia's NATO membership and completion of accession negotiations with the EU were a big and important achievement as well as a clear signal and message to its neighbours that that goal was achievable.
"Croatia absolutely supports all EU aspirants. We will help with the experience and the knowledge we gained in the negotiating process," Jandrokovic said, adding that the Belgrade forum, the first of its kind, clearly showed the incumbent Serbian government's EU membership aspirations.
"I think that's good, both for Serbia and for the whole of Southeast Europe. On the other hand, we have heard a lot of messages which indicate that Serbia still has a lot to do, that it has to solve some political and technical issues, that there are many reforms that have to be undertaken so it can embark more forcefully on the path to the EU. Regarding the European prospects, Croatia will support Serbia on that path."
Jandrokovic said he met with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Rocen and Macedonian Deputy PM Teuta Arifi for talks on bilateral matters and regional cooperation.
The forum brought together European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, Serbian President Boris Tadic and senior officials from Serbia, the EU, and Southeast Europe.
Speakers pointed to the importance of the EU expanding to the Western Balkans and pushed for good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation on the EU path.
In his address, Jandrokovic said Croatia's example was proof that all challenges could be overcome and underscored the importance of reforms, primarily because of the positive changes they brought into citizens' everyday life.
He recalled that Croatia did not intend to use outstanding bilateral issues to stop any country from making headway in its Euro-integration.
The message from a plenary session, attended by Jandrokovic, Rocen, Djelic, Arifi, Bosnian Council of Ministers Vice President Sadik Ahmetovic and Turkish European Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis, was that the success of each country on the path to EU membership was the success of the entire region.
