Belgrade, 2 September 2022 (MIA) - Even when we had some issues, we were always close, but today we're the closest and we no longer have open issues. I can proudly say we have the best relations in history and I believe we'll be wise enough to maintain it in the decades to come, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said addressing the Open Balkan Leaders' Summit, MIA's Belgrade correspondent reports. Congratulating North Macedonia and Albania on opening negotiations with the EU, he said Serbia had helped in meeting this goal expressing hopes that the Open Balkan initiative will further contribute to economic strengthening and connecting. According to the Serbian President, the introduction of Open Balkan green lanes has contributed to trade increasing by 17 percent and wait times at borders shortening by 15 minutes. "Serbia continues to modernize the Preshevo border crossing and two more lanes will be added in 2022. We hope for better improvement of phytosanitary and veterinary certificates. The documents we are to sign today come as a result of our joint commitment, including the agreement on uninterrupted provision of basic food products to Open Balkan countries," Vucic stated welcoming the holding of the first international fair "Wine Vision by Open Balkan". The Serbian President also thanked Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zoran Tegeltija, the foreign ministers of Hungary and Turkey, Péter Szijjártó and Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu respectively, for being guests at the event, which "shows how much we are connected and how much we need each other."