FM Paet: Serbia’s Course to the European Union is the Key to Stable Development in the Region
29.01.2008
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in a session of the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels on Monday, 28 January, during which the situation in the Western Balkans was discussed. The foreign ministers also discussed the situations in Africa and Pakistan, as well as matters related to the Middle East peace process.
While analysing developments in the Western Balkans, the foreign ministers primarily focused on Serbia. In its conclusions, the council emphasised that the European Union would like to develop more intensive ties with a stable and democratic Serbia. For this, the European Union will invite Serbia to sign a Political Agreement on Co-operation on 7 February. “We hope that Serbia will continue to integrate into the European Union,” said Foreign Minister Paet. “This is the key to stable development for Serbia and the entire region,” he added. According to Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, the outcome of the second round of presidential elections occurring on 3 February is very important. “The Serbians can choose between two paths—the path to integration and the EU, or the path that continues in relative isolation,” Paet noted.
The foreign ministers were pleased over the visa facilitation and readmission agreement that has gone into effect with the Western Balkans, and they welcome the European Commission’s launch of a visa dialogue with Serbia, which will begin soon. The Council of Foreign Ministers expressed their readiness to define detailed road maps and a schedule for the countries in the region, so that they may advance towards visa liberalisation. According to Urmas Paet, Estonia supports the initiation of a visa dialogue with the Western Balkan nations.
The European Union foreign policy leaders also discussed the situation in Sudan and Darfur. An overview of the activity in the area was given by UN Special Envoy to Sudan Jan Eliasson, who said that the presence of both the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and the United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), which began in January of this year, is crucial to the region. According to the Estonian foreign minister, Sudan has an urgent need for the employment of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement. “The government of Sudan must co-operate as promised, both in guaranteeing that humanitarian aid reaches its destination and in the extradition of war crime suspects,” the foreign minister emphasised. “Otherwise, we will need to implement sanctions against Sudan,” Paet added.
For more information:
Marika Post, spokesperson, Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU
+32 474 98 16 57
 
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