EU's Bilcik welcomes Serbia joining statement on Afghanistan

European Parliament's rapporteur for Serbia, Vladimir Bilcik, today welcomed Serbia joining a statement on Afghanistan, signed by the United States, EU member countries, as well as more than 110 countries in total, including those in the Western Balkans.

He told daily Danas that Serbia's alignment with EU foreign and security policy, including positions, sanctions and statements, is an important part of Serbia's commitment to the European path.

"I hope that Serbia is also considering joining the joint EU statement regarding the position of women and girls in Afghanistan, which was adopted by EU member states on August 18," Bilcik pointed out.

Serbia on Thursday joined a US State Department document on safe and orderly departure from Afghanistan.

Serbia thus became one of about 100 countries in the world that signed the joint US State Department statement on Afghanistan, in which all parties in that country are called upon to respect and enable safe and orderly departure of foreign citizens and Afghans who want to leave the country.

An updated list of countries that have signed the document, including Serbia, has been published on the State Department's website.

The joint statement was published on August 15, and the list of signatories included Serbia three days later.

Of the countries in our neighborhood, the statement was not signed only by Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary.

The document stresses that Afghans and foreign nationals wishing to leave the country must be allowed to do so, that roads, airports and border crossings must remain open and that calm must be maintained.

"The Afghan people deserve to live in safety, security and dignity. We in the international community stand ready to assist them," the statement concludes.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)