The Foreign Secretary offered encouragement to Serbia on starting EU accession negotiations in January 2014 on the basis of further progress on implementing agreements reached in the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.

The Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

In my meeting with Prime Minister Dacic of Serbia I welcomed the progress Serbia has made on implementing agreements reached in the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo since my last visit to Belgrade in May. I encouraged further positive engagement in the months ahead, including on supporting local elections in Kosovo, and on further implementation of agreements reached in the Dialogue. On the basis of this further progress, I hope that Serbia will begin EU accession negotiations in January 2014. Normalisation is a long term process and it is important that it continues throughout Serbia’s accession negotiations.

I wish Prime Minister Dacic the best for the conference taking place in London tomorrow on investment opportunities in Serbia. This is an important event and I am sure it will be a success.

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