Belgium PM on Balkans visit ahead of EU presidency

(TIRANA) - Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme gave his support to Tirana's bid to join the European Union on Tuesday, where he resumed a visit to the Balkans disrupted by Monday's train disaster in Brussels.

"We think Albania's adhesion to the EU is a key factor for stability in the Balkans," he told a press conference after meeting Albanian counterpart Sali Berish in Tirana ahead of Belgium taking over the EU's rotating presidency in July.

Later on Tuesday Leterme was due to visit Podgorica and meet Montengrin officials.

On the last leg of his trip Leterme is scheduled to have talks in Belgrade with Serbian President Boris Tadic.

Serbia applied in December to join the EU.

The new EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton is also due to visit the Balkans region this week. She was in Slovenia on Monday and is due to visit Bosnia, Serbia and Kosovo as well.