Austrian FM says Vucic is "anchor of stability in Balkans"

Austrian FM says Vucic is "anchor of stability in Balkans"

Welcoming Vucic on his visit to Austria, Kurz said he was pleased to see Austria maintain excellent contacts with Serbia, which he said was one of its most significant partners in the Western Balkans.

Serbia is very attractive economically and there are strong human and cultural ties between the two countries, Kurz said.

Austria is particularly grateful to Vucic for being an anchor of stability in the Western Balkans and for conducting reforms in his country that are good not only for Serbia, but Austria as well as there are many Austrian companies operating in the Serbian market, Kurz said.

Austria is supporting Serbia on its path of EU accession, he also said before the meeting.

Serbia is making major efforts to preserve stability in the Balkans - it will continue on that path and Austria is supportive of this, Vucic said.

"We will continue to work on the difficult future challenges, on enhancing economic cooperation and on bringing even more Austrian investors to Serbia," Vucic said.

Serbia will try to tackle the migrant wave even more efficiently and it is always prepared to listen to its Austrian partners, he noted.

Vucic is on a one-day visit to Austria at the invitation of Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern.