Nikowitz to become ambassador of Serbian culture in Hungary

BELGRADE - Serbia has achieved huge success in all fields over the past four years, and the level of the relations between Belgrade and Budapest is higher than ever in history, says outgoing Hungarian ambassador to Belgrade Oszkar Nikowitz.

In an interview with Tanjug, Nikowitz said that his stay in Serbia has enriched him culturally and that he intends to work on promoting Serbian culture in Hungary once he retires following his return to the country.

Serbia has made huge progress, and I can say that this is not the same country as the one I came to almost four years ago, Ambassador Nikowitz said.

He noted that all Serbian parliamentary parties now share the same view regarding the country's European future, that Serbia has been granted EU candidate status and that the rhetoric on Kosovo has changed, adding that the dialogue with Pristina is a huge step.

Speaking about the freedom of the media in Serbia, Nikowitz said that his impression was that the media have been free in the past as well, but voiced concern over the future of minority media.

Minority media will simply not be able to fund their own survival, and need state or local assistance, he noted.

Asked how realistic the year 2020 is as the target date for Serbia's EU accession, Nikowitz said that it gives the country sufficient time to complete all preparations, but added that it remains to be seen what the atmosphere in the EU itself will be like in six years.

It is very important to note that no effort and no ounce of energy invested in this field will be in vain because all that is now being done is in the interest of Serbia itself, irrespective of the European prospects, he said, reiterating that Hungary supports Serbia on...