Ashton, Clinton to make joint visit to Western Balkans
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton are to pay a joint visit to the Western Balkans, starting on October 30 2012.
The first stop of the joint visit will be Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Ashton and Clinton will meet the BiH Presidency in order to express support for the European perspective of the single, united and sovereign Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Commission said. They will also urge the leaders to address the pressing challenges and reforms, including in economy, job creation and the rule of law.
On October 31, Ashton and Clinton will visit Belgrade and Priština. In Serbia they are scheduled to meet president Tomislav Nikolić and prime minister Ivica Dačić, while in Kosovo they will meet president Atifete Jahjaga and prime minister Hashim Thaçi.
Ashton and Clinton will express support for the dialogue for the normalisation of relations: the EU-facilitated dialogue is in the interest of both sides, its objective is to improve the lives of people, help solve problems and bring Serbia and Kosovo closer to the EU, the European Commission said.
(Photo: Freddy Moris/US embassy Brussels)
