On 31 January 2022, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, was on a working visit in the capital city of Serbia, Belgrade, to have a discussion with Serbian officials on the bilateral dialogue between the two countries, while reaffirming Latvia’s support for the European Union’s perspective of Serbia and the region.
During the meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, Edgars Rinkēvičs confirmed Latvia’s interest in a dialogue with Serbia and he expressed satisfaction at the good bilateral relations between the two countries. We have good cooperation at the level of the Latvian and Serbian Foreign Ministries, the Minister said, as he welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, which is a commitment to cooperation, including support for the process of Serbia’s integration with the European Union. We are also open to offering our expertise and experience of EU integration to Serbia, Edgars Rinkēvičs noted, mentioning an example of a continued training course in European law and economy offered by Latvia in cooperation with other donors to young professionals from Serbia.
In the context of Serbia’s integration with the EU, the Latvian Foreign Minister reaffirmed that Latvia would continue supporting the process of European integration of Serbia and the region, and he congratulated the country on the completion of four chapters in negotiations at the end of 2021. Minister Rinkēvičs expressed hope in that being a stimulus for further reform, including in the environmental sector. For the accession talks to proceed smoothly, it is important that sustainable results are continuously achieved in the implementation of reforms related to the rule of law. A major step in that respect is the outcome of the 16 January referendum leading to constitutional amendments. Edgars Rinkēvičs underlined that the EU will also follow the elections this coming 3 April.
We are standing up, he noted, for a clear EU perspective of the Western Balkan countries and a credible EU enlargement policy based on the individual merits of each country. The political, economic and social transformation of the Western Balkans countries is in our common interests. Therefore, it is vital to enhance an inclusive regional cooperation and regional initiatives thereby providing benefits to both people and businesses. We also have shared challenges, for instance, migration, which should be addressed in cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans through migration management and information exchange, the Latvian Foreign Minister said.
Edgars Rinkēvičs pointed out that the aim of hybrid attacks, disinformation and manipulative meddling in democratic processes was to divert the Western Balkans countries from the path of Eurointegration. In light of that, the role of pluralistic and independent media as well as of media- and information literacy becomes of vital importance in enhancing resilience in society.
The minister also underlined that the candidate countries must meet definite accession criteria, especially concerning the rule of law, but the EU must honour its promises once the required reforms have been put in place. We are concerned about the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; therefore, it is important to restore the functioning of the state so that priority reforms could be continued, Edgars Rinkēvičs said.
The officials also held an exchange of views on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. Edgars Rinkēvičs noted that the long-term stability and prosperity of the Western Balkans region as a whole is conditional on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. We are closely following the dialogue and, just like other EU Member States, we are concerned at the current deadlock; therefore, we call on both the parties to resume the dialogue, which also contingent on the implementation of earlier agreements. It is in the interests of Serbia and Kosovo to achieve progress in the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement on the normalization of relations, in order to continue successfully along the course towards a full membership of the European Union, Edgars Rinkēvičs underlined.
The topics discussed during the visit covered the current security situation in Ukraine and across the region, as well as cooperation between the two countries in international organisations.
During his visit, the Foreign Minister of Latvia also met with the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, and the Minister of European Integration, Jadranka Joksimović.