German support, requirements remain

German support, requirements remain

BERLIN -- Germany will support Serbia on its path to the EU but will not relax its requirements on that road, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Monday.

Opening a panel discussion on Serbia's new beginning on its European pathway, organized by the Serbia-Germany Forum and Berlin-based German Council on Foreign Relations, Steinmeier said that the road to the EU would not be easy and it took courage and perseverance to succeed.

"It is important that the policies pursued be constructive in order to preserve peace and care must be taken to ensure that foreign and home agendas are in line with each other as the people are those who need to support the road to the EU, which is full of challenges. I assure you that we want to be a partner in handling these challenges. We will indeed be a partner, but a demanding one, too, who will support you in overcoming the challenges, but without relaxing the requirements," he said, and added:

"Prime Minister Vučić is aware that it is the only way and that there cannot be any concessions in this process, either when it comes to normalizing relations with Pristina on in terms of the rule of law and democratic governance, and it is not that the German side may wish to frustrate the process, but rather that we want the process to succeed."

Only hard work leads to success, and Vučić said that he was ready to go down that road, Steinmeier stated.

Serbia needs to implement reforms not because of the EU, but rather for its own sake, said Steinmeier, stressing that the fact that Vučić had his political fate tied to reforms commanded respect.

He pointed out that the history and relations between the two...