Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic met today, in Budapest, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi. In the talks with Mrkic, Orban and Martonyi reaffirmed Hungary's strong support to Serbia on its EU path.
"We are fully aware of how many times Hungary has recently supported us in the process of Serbia's EU accession and we highly appreciate that. We believe that the voice of our neighbours has particular weight when Serbia is discussed in Brussels", the Serbian Foreign Minister said following his talks with Martonyi. Mrkic also said that Serbia expected assistance from Hungary in the coming period as well, in order to be prepared for the official commencement of the negotiations with the EU and to be able, "with good friendly advice" to go through the process with the least possible difficulty. According to the Hungarian MTI Agency, Orban stated that Hungary firmly supported Serbia's European integration. Martonyi underlined that official Budapest supported soonest possible commencement of the Serbia–EU accession negotiations. Martonyi further said that it was in the interest of Hungary to continue to strengthen its "exceptional relations" with Serbia.
One of the subjects of their talks, Mrkic said, was also national minorities.
"This is not an ordinary convenient phrase; we truly see the minority issue as the possibility of consolidating the friendship between our countries", the Serbian Foreign Minister commented.
He said that a decree would soon be adopted by the Government rescinding the decision whereby specific settlements were proclaimed as criminal immediately after WWII, on which a declaration was adopted also by the Serbian National Assembly.
Mrkic also addressed the issue of "unfounded asylum seekers", underlining that Serbia was ready to do its utmost in order to reduce their number. Serbia and Hungary would also reach agreement on new border crossing points – one was opened last May and two more are under construction, as well as on the establishment of better railway connections.
The Serbian Foreign Minister met on the premises of the Serbian Embassy in Budapest also with representatives of the Serbian community living in Hungary.

Mrkic and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Janos Martonyi

Mrkic and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Janos Martonyi

Mrkic on the support of Hungary to Serbia on its way to the EU

Mrkic: One of the topics in the discussions was the national minorities

Mrkic commented on the issue of “unfounded asylum seekers”, pointing out that Serbia will do its best to reduce their number