We welcome the decision taken at the 1 March 2012 session of the EU Heads of State and Government Summit with regard to granting Serbia the status of candidate country. We believe that the decision in question will contribute to peace and stability in the Balkans.

Turkey attributes special importance to its relations with Serbia, which it regards as a key country and neighbor in the Balkans, and strongly supports the Euro-Atlantic orientation of Serbia.

H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül, President of the Republic of Turkey, called and congratulated H.E. Mr. Boris Tadić, President of the Republic of Serbia, for this important decision.