The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU is committed to achieving tangible progress in Serbia’s EU accession talks, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna told Serbia’s Minister of European Integration, Nemanja Starović, during a meeting in Nicosia on Monday.
Raouna recalled President Nikos Christodoulides’ April visit to Belgrade, the first stop in his European tour ahead of Cyprus’ Presidency. “It wasn’t a coincidence that it started in Serbia. It was a signal of our commitment to work closely together,” she said, stressing that enlargement is a merit-based process and that when candidate countries deliver reforms, the EU must reciprocate.
She underlined Cyprus’ role as an “honest broker” and pointed to the traditionally close ties between the two countries, built on principles of international law and respect for sovereignty.
Starović welcomed the pledge, saying Serbia has “great expectations” for Cyprus’ Presidency. He thanked Nicosia for its long-standing support, describing relations as “brotherly,” and emphasized in Greek: “There is only one Cyprus.”
CNA
