Clinton, Ashton arrive in Belgrade

BELGRADE - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday to continue their joint Balkan tour.

"Serbia's future is in the EU," Ashton said after the top US and EU diplomats met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Ivica Dacic. "Our conversations were about what Serbia needs to do in order to continue to the EU."

"It is important that people know that we are working with the EU that Serbia would be in the EU," said Clinton. "We're not here to impose conditions... However, we will be concentrating on a stable future for the Balkans."

Ashton, meanwhile, also pressed Serbia to move faster to normalize its ties with Kosovo which unilaterally declared independence in 2008.

Clinton and Ashton will be visiting Pristina next on their joint Balkan tour.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic (L-R) pose for a picture prior to their meeting in Belgrade, Oct 30, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]