He said it was up to the voters to decide, adding that some parties in Serbia were more and some less oriented towards the country's European path. We shall see who is prepared to carry out reforms that will help Serbia draw closer to the European Union, but we shall most definitely respect the will of Serbian voters, Bildt said, adding that the EU would adjust its policy accordingly.
The Swedish minister, who held talks with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic in Belgrade and Serbian President Boris Tadic in Nis, said that the EU Council of Ministers would meet on 22 January, after the release of preliminary election results, expressing hope that a news government would be formed soon after that.
On behalf of the entire European Union, I hope that the new Serbian government would be formed as soon as possible, he said. We shall respect the will of Serbia's electorate, but we hope that voters will elect the government with whom we would be able to launch concrete and deep negotiations very fast, Bildt said.
He hailed new EU member states Bulgaria and Romania and Croatia's membership talks, adding however, that the process would not be fully completed without Serbia.