Foreign Minister János Martonyi declared that it was a European as well as a Central European and Hungarian interest that the European Council make a decision about when accession negotiations with Serbia should begin.

The Hungarian Foreign Minister had talks with Suzana Grubješić, the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, who came to Budapest to attend the sixth EU-Ukraine Forum.

Following their meeting, Mr Martonyi declared that Hungary expected that the European Council would make a decision on the date for beginning accession talks with Serbia in June, and so hopefully another neighbour of Hungary could become a member of the European Union. Hungary appreciated that Serbia had managed to reach an agreement with Kosovo in April, Mr Martonyi stressed, adding that he hoped „the implementation of the agreement would also proceed without difficulty.”

Deputy Prime Minister Grubješić stated that Serbia was grateful to Hungary for supporting the European integration efforts of Serbia. As regards bilateral relations, Mr Martonyi underlined that the Presidents of Hungary and Serbia would lay a wreath together at Serbian and Hungarian memorial sites at the end of this month. This joint action will have political significance, for it will demonstrate that the policy of mutual understanding and rapprochement is more important than „any real or perceived grievance with regard to the past” – said the Hungarian Foreign Minister. Mr Martonyi noted that fewer incidents have occurred recently in Vojvodina, the northern-most province of Serbia with a large ethnic Hungarian community. Concerning the province's autonomy, he expressed hope that disputes concerning the issue would be settled soon.

Ms Grubješić said the Serbian Government has been committed to the country's EU accession since it was formed. She also called the Serbian and Hungarian minorities of both countries a major bond.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs)