President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday that the Serbian authorities would do everything possible for the sake of peace and security in the Balkans.

“We will do our best, not only to achieve peace but to reach more agreements which will mean security for the people of the Balkans and a better life,” he told visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Vucic said that the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue was the foundation for negotiations from the start, adding that Serbia is committed to the dialogue. “Any kind of destabilization, problems even if they aren’t big, create a huge problem for all of us in terms of attracting investors and the country’s image. It’s in our interest to try to advance our economy and work on rule of law,” he said.

Vucic said that Serbia won’t become a member of the European Union before it resolves its relations with Pristina but warned that a lot remains to be done in other fields as well.

Von der Leyen voiced concern over the crisis in Kosovo but expressed the conviction that de-escalation is possible as well as a friendly, sustainable solution. “That is why we have the dialogue platform mediated by the EU… The region needs strong relations and reconciliation and I know that you are part of it,” she said.

The European Commission President said that Serbia’s better future lies in the EU but warned that a lot of work remains to be done on that path, including getting through the pandemic and stimulating economic recovery.

Vucic and Von der Leyen were in the southern city of Nis for a ceremony marking the start of reconstruction of a railway section on the International Rail Corridor 10 and the signing of a contract to build a highway section.