Support for the West Balkans and the need for continued commitment by NATO and the European Union were the focal point of a Thursday meeting of the Visegrad Group - comprising the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - in Godollo, Hungary.

The extended meeting gathered high ranking foreign affairs officials from the Visegrad countries, along with representatives of the European Union, Lithuania which holds the rotating EU presidency, Turkey, Austria, and the six West Balkan countries, namely Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia which are keen to join the EU.

In a memorandum issued after the meeting of the Visegrad Group, the four Visegrad countries expressed support for maintaining the momentum of EU enlargement, calling the Western Balkan countries' accession to the EU a common interest of both the EU member states and the aspiring states.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout noted that while the Visegrad group was an important player in the European arena, it also worked with countries outside of Europe.

Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak underlined the Visegrad group's awareness of its responsibilities towards its Balkan neighbors, and Undersecretary of State Henryka Moscicka Dendys of Poland pointed out that is was important for the group to share its experience with the West Balkans and Turkey.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius emphasized the importance of Europe remaining open and of progressing towards continued enlargement, which, he said, meant overcoming "enlargement fatigue.