Sweden, France voice support for Serbia's EU candidacy

STOCKHOLM, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner have voiced their support for eventual Serbian membership of the European Union (EU), local media reported.

"We want Serbia to be given official EU candidate country status as soon as possible, and are prepared to help Serbia to move toward accession, proud of its history and focused on the future," the two foreign ministers said in an article published Wednesday in several newspapers across Europe.

The simplified visa procedures which began at the start of 2008for Serbian citizens is not enough, the two foreign ministers said, adding, "It is time for the EU to open a process with Serbia with a view to lifting visa requirements altogether."

The article appeared on the fifth anniversary of the murder of former Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic who wanted to accelerate Serbia's ties with the EU.

Serbia has initialed but not signed a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA), the first step for Balkan states to move toward the EU.