(13 Sep 2021) German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday met with Serbian President President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade for talks that focused on the Balkan nation's accession to the European Union.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Vucic, Merkel said the two leaders discussed domestic politics and reforms, as well as the EU integration process.
"I have to say that we always have to remember how important, geo-strategically, the rapprochement of these countries towards the European Union is," Merkel said.
The visit to Serbia is part of the German Chancellor's tour of the six remaining western Balkan states yet to join the EU.
Tensions over Kosovo, Serbia's former province, remain a source of volatility in the Balkans.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, and is recognised by most Western nations.
Both Serbia and Kosovo have been told that they cannot hope to move forward in their efforts to join the EU before resolving the decades-old rift that exploded in a conflict in 1998-99, leaving more than 10,000 people dead and triggering a NATO intervention.
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