The Serbian deputy prime minister in charge of European integration, Bozidar Djelic, said in Belgrade on Feb. 17 that he expected EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton to support Serbia's European aims at her upcoming visit to Belgrade.

At a news conference following the opening of a competition for technological innovations, Djelic said that the fact Ashton is coming to the Western Balkans and Belgrade after Washington and Moscow is indicative.

"That shows that the statements we can read are in fact based on true realization of the importance of the Western Balkans' rapid EU integration, and we expect support for our European aims," Djelic said.

Pointing out that Ashton will arrive in Belgrade on Feb. 18, Djelic said he expected that brief but highly active visit would enable her "to take impressions from the field of what Serbia's needs are, what it is doing and why Serbia deserves support from the entire EU."

According to Djelic, during her first visit to Belgrade Ashton will see the problems Serbia is facing, as well as the efforts being made to maintain the country's economic and financial stability.