EU's Ashton meets with new head of Serbian government

EU's Ashton meets with new head of Serbian government

BELGRADE -- After her talks with top Serbian officials, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said it was "wonderful to see Serbia on its path towards the EU."

Addressing a joint news conference after her meeting in Belgrade on Monday with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, Ashton said she had come to congratulate on the election in which the people decided that the path Vučić and Dačić and their partners had chosen was the right way.

She did not mention the dialogue with Priština, but said that in meetings with top Serbian officials - the president and the prime minister - several important topics and issues were discussed, especially related to the economy where "difficult reforms will follow, but which would bring better life to citizens."

"The EU will send a message that Serbia is a good place for investment and the EU wants to help Serbia," Ashton said, adding that Serbia's path will be successful and will not last long.

She praised Vučić's commitment to reforms, the fight against corruption and seeking to establish law and order, and said she looked forward to working with Vučić until the end of her mandate, which expires at the end of the year.

Asked whether it was realistic to expect that Serbia could complete its negotiations with the EU by 2018, she replied:

"If I were you I would not doubt the capacity of this man (Vučić) to break all records."

"Being a part of the European family means that you are guaranteed peace and security for your country," Ashton was also quoted as saying.

Vučić said he thought Ashton's trip "only to Serbia and only on the occasion of the forming of the new...