President on three-day visit to Italy

Serbian President Boris Tadic has started his three-day visit to Italy today. Italy and Serbia are key strategic partners, said Tadic after his meeting with Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano in Rome this Thursday. President on three-day visit to Italy Tadic pointed out that he had recieved clear support for Serbia’s EU integration, and said that tomorrow’s signing of an agreement on strategic partnership with Italy was a "great success for Serbia and its citizens". The president pointed out that Serbia and Italy do not have the same position regarding Kosovo, but that he respected the position of Rome when it decided not to take part in the discussion before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and defend the stance that the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence was in accordance with the international law. Tadic will also meet with the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Gianfraco Fini this afternoon. Members of the Serbian delegation include Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and nine of his cabinet ministers. The president will also visit Turin where car manufacturer Fiat is set to present a new model, which should be produced in Serbia's Kragujevac-based Zastava factory. Tadic is also due to meet with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI. Tadic, Napolitano in Rome today (FoNet) Italian support for EU candidacy Ahead of the summit, Italian ambassador in Belgrade Armando Varicchio stated that the meeting will mark the beginning of a strategic partnership between the two countries and an opportunity for Italy to confirm its support to Serbia's European integration. Speaking at a news conference at the Italian embassy in Belgrade on Wednesday, Varicchio said that his country strongly backs Serbia applying for EU membership in the near future. "Enlargement is a political process, and this is why it is important for Serbia not to lag behind other countries in the region. The time has come for Serbia to move forward," he said. As for visa liberalization, Varicchio said that "good news is coming". "When one does one's job seriously and well, as has been the case with Serbia, friends in Brussels will recognize these results," the diplomat said. He added that this is "not a gift" but "a response to what Serbia has done". "Serbia has done a good job and the Council will decide over the next few weeks," Varicchio said. The Italian ambassador also said that Italy is working in Brussels and bilaterally to ensure that the EU-Serbia Stabilization and Association Agreement is unblocked by the end of the year. "Even if this does not take place, Serbia should apply for membership because such a political move will demonstrate clearly enough that the goal of the Serbian government is membership of the EU," he added. Varicchio said that the forthcoming summit is not just a meeting between two governments, but the beginning of a strategic partnership between the countries. He added that the two prime ministers will sign a joint declaration on the initiation of a strategic partnership, which will encompass political, economic and cultural cooperation. The most important part of the summit, the Italian ambassador said, is the signing of strategic documents in the fields of infrastructure and transportation, agriculture, energy, environment, defense, as well as readmission and cultural cooperation.

President on three-day visit to Italy

Tadić pointed out that he had recieved clear support for Serbia’s EU integration, and said that tomorrow’s signing of an agreement on strategic partnership with Italy was a "great success for Serbia and its citizens".

The president pointed out that Serbia and Italy do not have the same position regarding Kosovo, but that he respected the position of Rome when it decided not to take part in the discussion before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and defend the stance that the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence was in accordance with the international law.

Tadić will also meet with the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Gianfraco Fini this afternoon. Members of the Serbian delegation include Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković and nine of his cabinet ministers.

The president will also visit Turin where car manufacturer Fiat is set to present a new model, which should be produced in Serbia's Kragujevac-based Zastava factory.

Tadić is also due to meet with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI.

Italian support for EU candidacy

Ahead of the summit, Italian ambassador in Belgrade Armando Varicchio stated that the meeting will mark the beginning of a strategic partnership between the two countries and an opportunity for Italy to confirm its support to Serbia's European integration.

Speaking at a news conference at the Italian embassy in Belgrade on Wednesday, Varicchio said that his country strongly backs Serbia applying for EU membership in the near future.

"Enlargement is a political process, and this is why it is important for Serbia not to lag behind other countries in the region. The time has come for Serbia to move forward," he said.

As for visa liberalization, Varicchio said that "good news is coming".

"When one does one's job seriously and well, as has been the case with Serbia, friends in Brussels will recognize these results," the diplomat said.

He added that this is "not a gift" but "a response to what Serbia has done". "Serbia has done a good job and the Council will decide over the next few weeks," Varicchio said.

The Italian ambassador also said that Italy is working in Brussels and bilaterally to ensure that the EU-Serbia Stabilization and Association Agreement is unblocked by the end of the year.

"Even if this does not take place, Serbia should apply for membership because such a political move will demonstrate clearly enough that the goal of the Serbian government is membership of the EU," he added.

Varicchio said that the forthcoming summit is not just a meeting between two governments, but the beginning of a strategic partnership between the countries. He added that the two prime ministers will sign a joint declaration on the initiation of a strategic partnership, which will encompass political, economic and cultural cooperation.

The most important part of the summit, the Italian ambassador said, is the signing of strategic documents in the fields of infrastructure and transportation, agriculture, energy, environment, defense, as well as readmission and cultural cooperation.