Serbia's EU accession vital for Western Balkans stability: minister

(BUDAPEST) - Serbia's accession to the European Union is "only way" to bring stability to the Western Balkans, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said on Wednesday in Budapest.

"Serbia's EU integration is the only way to stabilise the western Balkans," Jeremic told journalists after meeting with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Balazs.

"Important days await us to accelerate Serbia's EU accession. Last year was a very successful one in this process and we have to continue our effort aiming at Serbia's integration," Jeremic added.

Belgrade officially applied for a EU membership in December, after Brussels introduced a visa-free travel regime for Serbian citizens and unfroze a free trade accord following Serbia's increased cooperation with The Hague-based war crimes tribunal.

It hopes to be granted candidate status this year and join the EU in 2014.

Balazs said that Hungary stood ready to help Serbia's EU ambitions which he deemed to be in "Europe's general interest".

"We have a very open and sincere relationship, we talked about Kosovo, the Hungarian minority living in (the northern Serbian region of) Voivodina," Balazs said.

"I can assure everyone that Serbia is doing everything to cooperate with Hungary and with the rest of the EU," he added.

Concerning the recognition of Kosovo's independence, Jeremic said: "Serbia is ready to find a compromise if it is in accordance with the international law, as this issue must be solved on legal and diplomatic grounds."