Austrian president to visit Belgrade on Friday

Austrian President Heinz Fischer will visit Belgrade on Friday, where he will meet with Serbian President Boris Tadic. Tadic and Fischer will talk to the press after the meeting, the president's press office said in a release. Austrian president to visit Belgrade on Friday Fischer's spokesman Bruno Aignar told Austrian agency APA that the Austrian president wanted to express support to Serbia as an EU candidate country. The Austrian and Serbian presidents met in Vienna on December 15 last year, when Fischer pledged Austria's support to Serbia's EU integration and said Croatia's and Serbia's accession is an important contribution to stabilization and democratization of the Western Balkans. Ahead of Fischer's visit, two contracts were signed enabling Austrian company Swarovski to build a new factory in Subotica and invest EUR 21mn in Serbia. The investment will create 550 new jobs. Tadic, who was present for the deal signing on Tuesday, stressed that it was yet another confirmation of the good relations between Serbia and Austria. "Serbia and Austria continually build on their relationship. Austria fully supports Serbia's EU path," he stressed, adding that Austria was supportive of Serbia's EU candidacy and will continue to support its EU integration. The Serbian president also said that Austria significantly helped Serbia, both politically and through investments, to build a civil and efficient society. Austria is the country with the greatest number of investments in Serbia and one of its most important economic partners. Boris Tadic and Heinz Fischer Tanjug

Austrian president to visit Belgrade on Friday

Fischer's spokesman Bruno Aignar told Austrian agency APA that the Austrian president wanted to express support to Serbia as an EU candidate country.

The Austrian and Serbian presidents met in Vienna on December 15 last year, when Fischer pledged Austria's support to Serbia's EU integration and said Croatia's and Serbia's accession is an important contribution to stabilization and democratization of the Western Balkans.

Ahead of Fischer's visit, two contracts were signed enabling Austrian company Swarovski to build a new factory in Subotica and invest EUR 21mn in Serbia.

The investment will create 550 new jobs.

Tadić, who was present for the deal signing on Tuesday, stressed that it was yet another confirmation of the good relations between Serbia and Austria.

"Serbia and Austria continually build on their relationship. Austria fully supports Serbia's EU path," he stressed, adding that Austria was supportive of Serbia's EU candidacy and will continue to support its EU integration.

The Serbian president also said that Austria significantly helped Serbia, both politically and through investments, to build a civil and efficient society.

Austria is the country with the greatest number of investments in Serbia and one of its most important economic partners.