Serbian nationalists protest Mogherini at parliament

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini was protested by members of the Serbian nationalist parties during her speech at the Serbian National Assembly on Friday.

Members of the Serbian Radical Party (SRS) hit the tables and shouted "We do not need EU" when Mogherini took the floor while the deputies of the Serbian nationalist Dveri Movement raised posters which read "Serbia does not trust Brussels."

Mogherini turned to the protesting MPs and said: "You thought that I would give up. I will not."

Mogherini then went on with her speech for about 20 minutes.

Emphasizing that the Western Balkans are at the heart of Europe, Mogherini said she was convinced that the EU would not be complete without Serbia and other Balkan countries.

She said the EU would not be limited to 27 members, and the EU would replace any country that leaves the bloc with a new one including Serbia.

She recalled that Serbia opened four chapters last year, and two more last week as part of the accession negotiations, adding she was aware that Serbs expected more.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and European Integration Minister Jadranka Joksimovic also attended the session.

Mogherini also met with President Tomislav Nikolic as part of her visit to Belgrade.

Mogherini is going to visit Tirana on Friday evening where she will depart for Bosnia's capital Sarajevo to meet with members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Chairman of the Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic.