Tadić, Sarkozy meet in Evian

President Boris Tadic has met with French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in Evian. The two presidents discussed “bilateral relations, the two countries’ historical friendship, and potential for boosting economic cooperation.“ Tadic, Sarkozy meet in Evian Serbia received open support from France for its accelerated European integration and confirmation of its place in the EU, said Tadic after the meeting. This was the first meeting between Tadic and Sarkozy, who travelled to Evian to address a World Policy Conference. His meeting with Tadic was the first in a series of encounters Sarkozy held at Evian. “An excellent meeting. Friendly, with the idea of beginning a new political future for our two countries,“ the Serbian president told journalists, adding that France was one of the key countries that supported Serbia on its EU path. According to Tadic, France understood the political situation and challenges that Serbia faced. He said that there had been points of disagreement during the conversation with Sarkozy, particularly with regards to Kosovo. Tadic said, however, that today’s meeting had been a good opportunity to put forward Serbia’s arguments on that issue and to explain the importance of its initiative at the General Assembly today. Sarkozy will visit Serbia in the first half of 2009, when he will be accompanied by a large French industrial delegation “that will have a chance to see for itself our country’s economic potential and the opportunities for French investors,“ said the president. Boris Tadic, Nicolas Sarkozy (FoNet) Tadic addresses France conference President Boris Tadic has addressed a World Policy Conference in Evian, southeast France. Tadic told the conference that the UN was the only power that could preserve the stability of international relations in the contemporary world, and that for that reason, resolving the problem of Kosovo’s status should be returned to the framework of the UN and international law. At the same time, the president called on countries in the region not to give in to pressure in the case of Kosovo and not to recognize the province’s illegally declared independence, as this would destabilize the whole region, not only Serbia. “The UN is the only legitimate universal system for preventing a return to anarchy—particularly in a world that is becoming ever less coherent and increasingly volatile,“ he told international officials during the plenary part of the conference. Tadic addressed the audience’s attention to today’s vote at the UN on Serbia’s initiative to seek the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of Kosovo’s independence declaration, which, according to him, was an opportunity to avert a crisis in the international system brought about by an attempt at secession. The president stressed that Serbia wanted to cooperate with its neighbors in the region, and that, as a result, it was unfortunate that Serbia’s immediate neighbors were under pressure to recognize the province’s illegally declared independence. “That not only destabilizes the region, but Serbia too, Such an erroneous approach divides us, and certainly does not unite us. I call on our friends in the region not to succumb to pressure in the case of Kosovo,“ he stressed. Later today, Tadic will meet with French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in Evian. The president will also address participants of a World Policy Conference being held in that town. The two presidents are due to discuss “bilateral relations, the two countries’ historical friendship, and potential for boosting economic cooperation.“ Today’s conference, organized by the French Institute for International Relations, will also be addressed today by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Sarkozy himself, who will close the rally.

Tadić, Sarkozy meet in Evian

Serbia received open support from France for its accelerated European integration and confirmation of its place in the EU, said Tadić after the meeting.

This was the first meeting between Tadić and Sarkozy, who travelled to Evian to address a World Policy Conference.

His meeting with Tadić was the first in a series of encounters Sarkozy held at Evian.

“An excellent meeting. Friendly, with the idea of beginning a new political future for our two countries,“ the Serbian president told journalists, adding that France was one of the key countries that supported Serbia on its EU path.

According to Tadić, France understood the political situation and challenges that Serbia faced.

He said that there had been points of disagreement during the conversation with Sarkozy, particularly with regards to Kosovo.

Tadić said, however, that today’s meeting had been a good opportunity to put forward Serbia’s arguments on that issue and to explain the importance of its initiative at the General Assembly today.

Sarkozy will visit Serbia in the first half of 2009, when he will be accompanied by a large French industrial delegation “that will have a chance to see for itself our country’s economic potential and the opportunities for French investors,“ said the president.

Tadić addresses France conference

President Boris Tadić has addressed a World Policy Conference in Evian, southeast France.

Tadić told the conference that the UN was the only power that could preserve the stability of international relations in the contemporary world, and that for that reason, resolving the problem of Kosovo’s status should be returned to the framework of the UN and international law.

At the same time, the president called on countries in the region not to give in to pressure in the case of Kosovo and not to recognize the province’s illegally declared independence, as this would destabilize the whole region, not only Serbia.

“The UN is the only legitimate universal system for preventing a return to anarchy—particularly in a world that is becoming ever less coherent and increasingly volatile,“ he told international officials during the plenary part of the conference.

Tadić addressed the audience’s attention to today’s vote at the UN on Serbia’s initiative to seek the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of Kosovo’s independence declaration, which, according to him, was an opportunity to avert a crisis in the international system brought about by an attempt at secession.

The president stressed that Serbia wanted to cooperate with its neighbors in the region, and that, as a result, it was unfortunate that Serbia’s immediate neighbors were under pressure to recognize the province’s illegally declared independence.

“That not only destabilizes the region, but Serbia too, Such an erroneous approach divides us, and certainly does not unite us. I call on our friends in the region not to succumb to pressure in the case of Kosovo,“ he stressed.

Later today, Tadić will meet with French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in Evian.

The president will also address participants of a World Policy Conference being held in that town.

The two presidents are due to discuss “bilateral relations, the two countries’ historical friendship, and potential for boosting economic cooperation.“

Today’s conference, organized by the French Institute for International Relations, will also be addressed today by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Sarkozy himself, who will close the rally.