Slovenian Ambassador: Serbia’s Path to EU Could Also Lead via Ljubljana

Damjan Bergant(BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC/DS)

The Slovenian ambassador to Serbia, Damjan Bergant, has stated that Serbia’s membership in the EU was inevitable and that Slovenia was ready to help it on that path, but also that Serbia should “do its homework” in the fields of rule of law, democracy, media freedom, fight against corruption and neighborly relations.

“I am always emphasizing the fact that Slovenia was Serbia’s natural ally on the path to the EU. Actually, I may say that the path from Belgrade to Brussels could lead via Ljubljana. However, the extent to which Serbia wishes to use that is up to Serbia,” Bergant told the portal Balkantravel.rs on April 12.

The Slovenian ambassador recollected that membership in the EU also called for a lot of hard work and sacrifice in certain areas. “Serbia, and particularly the Serbs – you must realize that you are a part of Europe and the world and that there are no enemies and ill-wishers in your immediate vicinity who want to harm you. Tradition, history, national background and the rest are undoubtedly important, but individuals and the global perspective of Europe are more important,” he stated.

Bergant assessed that the EU provided the greatest possible perspective to the rule of law, human rights and democracy and that no country was ideal in that regard, but that one should strive towards coming as close as possible to those values. “The biggest enemy of the EU is nationalism and I am afraid that individuals in Serbia currently strive more towards nationalism than towards the European perspective. That is why this mental leap is necessary, so that everyone would understand what Europe means and which advantages it brings. Shutting oneself off was never better than having a broad and open view. That is the foundation that Serbia must understand and accept,” the ambassador stated.