Blanar: Slovakia's position on Kosovo-Metohija unchanged

BELGRADE - Slovakia's position on the Kosovo-Metohija issue is unchanged, Slovak FM Juraj Blanar said in Belgrade on Friday, noting that his country did not recognise the so-called Kosovo.

"Our position remains unchanged. We support the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. We want to help the (EU) integration of the Western Balkans - especially Serbia as a very important state - to progress much more quickly than is currently the case," Blanar told a press conference after a meeting with Serbian FM Marko Djuric.

Blanar said Slovakia supported Serbia's EU path and called for opening, and closing, Cluster 3 in its accession talks and for delivering on promises made to Serbia.

He said Slovakia condemned the double standards and the political approach often used in Brussels.

In case the European path takes too long, the people of Serbia might think they are not wanted in the EU, which is not true, Blanar noted.

He said Serbia and Slovakia maintained excellent relations based on long-standing historical foundations.

He thanked the Serbian leadership for its swift reaction following the attempted assassination of Slovak PM Robert Fico and added that Serbia had been one of the first countries to condemn the attack, which he noted was an attack on democracy.

Djuric said Blanar was a true and sincere friend of Serbia and added that the two countries shared a strong friendship forged through many generations.

Djuric said Slovakia provided full support to Serbia regarding its key national interest - the issue of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo-Metohija.

"Fico and Blanar are among the strongest advocates of our national interests both when it comes to European integration and when it comes to Kosovo-Metohija," he said.

Djuric also said annual bilateral trade between Serbia and Slovakia had reached 1.2 bln euros but could be much higher.

He said Serbia and Slovakia both advocated peace and cooperation and shared the same principle when it comes to international activities.

A memorandum of understanding and cooperation between the Serbian and Slovak MFAs was signed in Belgrade earlier in the day.