Senate Passes Resolution To Support Serbia's Bid For European Union Membership

Press Release

Senate Passes Resolution To Support Serbia's Bid For European Union Membership

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) and Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), issued the following statements announcing the Senate's passage of a resolution supporting the Republic of Serbia's bid for membership in the European Union and recognizing its growing partnership with Europe and the global community:

"Serbia's people have made impressive progress to bring their country closer to Europe," said Chairman Kerry. "The United States strongly supports Serbia's Trans-Atlantic aspirations and I am confident that President Tadic and his government understand what that goal requires. I believe European leaders are paying close attention to Serbia and I hope they act quickly and clearly on its membership bid."

"I have long believed that the integration of all Southeast European states into Euro-Atlantic institutions is the surest guarantor of sustained regional security, stability and economic prosperity," said Sen. Voinovich. "I congratulate my friend President Boris Tadic for his leadership on Serbia's European aspirations. I pray that Serbia will continue on a pro-Western, democratic path, and that all Serbians will see the fruits of democracy as quickly as possible."

Sen. Voinovich, whose grandparents were Slovenians and Serbians from Croatia, has been an active proponent of U.S. leadership in Southeast Europe since his days as Governor of Ohio. In February, Sen. Voinovich visited Belgrade, Serbia as a part of a Congressional Delegation with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chair of the European Affairs Subcommittee.

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