German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Aug. 22 in Zagreb that all countries in South-East Europe can become members of the European Union as long as they fulfill the conditions for it and underscored that establishing relations with Kosovo was one of the conditions for Serbia.

After meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, Merkel said a press conference that she was going to Belgrade with the message that Serbia should look at Croatia which has fulfilled all the conditions for EU membership.

"We want you to improve, to develop, to cooperate," added the German chancellor.

In anticipation of her upcoming visit to Pristina, Croatian Prime Minister Kosor said that "Kosovo was a reality" and that she was convinced that the Serbian government in Belgrade was also aware of that. She reiterated that Croatia supported the entry of Serbia and all of South-East Europe into the EU.