FM: Avoid politicizing outstanding issues between Serbia and Croatia

Outstanding issues between Serbia and Croatia should not be politicized, and the focus should instead be on achieving concrete results through institutional and bilateral mechanisms, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić said during a meeting with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman in the city of Subotica, according to Report's Balkans bureau.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations, the situation in the Western Balkans, and other issues of mutual interest.

Đurić emphasized that relations with neighboring Croatia, as well as with all other neighbors, are of great importance for Serbia. He stated that Serbia is interested in further developing these relations through open and substantive dialogue.

The minister noted that some outstanding issues are serious and complex, but with consideration of common needs and interests, it is possible to adopt a constructive approach and find mutually acceptable solutions.

The interlocutors also discussed the importance of holding a new meeting of national coordinators on outstanding issues. Đurić described the meeting of national coordinators held in October 2024 as an important and positive step.

Touching on European integration, Đurić reiterated that membership in the European Union is Serbia's strategic choice. He stressed that the integration of Western Balkan countries into the EU as soon as possible could serve as a strong incentive for the prosperity and stability of the region and Europe as a whole.