Starović: Serbia is the most important link between the Balkans and Central Europe

Starović assessed that times have been very challenging lately, considering that the whole world is struggling with the corona virus pandemic.

The state secretary said that Serbia showed solidarity and donated a large number of vaccines to its neighbors and enabled the citizens of neighboring countries to be vaccinated in our country. He also pointed out that our country donated 100,000 vaccines to the Czech Republic, and that we then donated a certain number of vaccines to the countries of Africa and Asia.

Starović pointed out that this gesture sent a positive message from the Balkans, a message of friendship and solidarity.

According to Starović, Serbia is determined and pursues such a regional policy in order to show that it is the most important link between the Balkans and Central Europe.

Speaking about the "Open Balkans" initiative, Starović said that three countries are currently participating in it, but that he is convinced that more states will soon join the initiative.

Starović pointed out that the "Open Balkans" initiative is not in conflict with the "Berlin Process", emphasizing that both Serbia and Northern Macedonia and Albania are very committed to the "Berlin Process" and the formation of a common regional market.

Starović gave an analogy between the "Open Balkans" and "Berlin Process" initiatives, pointing out that there are similar situations in the EU itself and that there are member states that are not yet in the eurozone or the Schengen system.

The secretary of state emphasized that the "Open Balkans" initiative received clear support from the United States and Central European countries, emphasizing that the support we receive from the Visegrad Group is valuable.

"The goal of the initiative is to have a common labor market and we want to abolish the borders between our countries, because if the borders were good for the economy, then the EU would have them as well", Starović concluded.