Heiko Maas (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV/DS)
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in Belgrade on April 23 that now was the right time to achieve results in the dialog on normalizing relations between Belgrade and Pristina.
Maas told a joint news conference after meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic that it was "important" that the dialog not be conducted for its own sake, but with a view to results.
"Governments with a stable parliamentary majority have been formed in both countries. Now is the time to resume the dialog on normalization of relations and achieve results.
Germany has complete confidence in the EU and (its dialog envoy) Miroslav Lajcak," Maas said.
He said Germany was aware that the dialog on normalizing relations was not "an easy process," but that it would lead to economic benefit.
Asked to comment on a statement by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani that the dialog should start over, Maas said that the process did not need to be reset, but rather that every topic from the past should be leveraged to reach results.
On Serbia's bid to join the European Union, Maas said the rule was still in place that every state set its own pace in joining the EU, and added that a reformatory effort was needed at the state level, primarily in the central areas of the rule of law and fight against corruption.
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