Tadić, Christofias: Excellent relations

Serbian President Boris Tadic and Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias met in Nicosia on Thursday, on the first day of Tadic's two-day visit. Tadic, Christofias: Excellent relations At a joint press conference after meeting Tadic, Christofias said that Cyprus supports Serbia and all Western Balkan countries on their path towards integration in the European Union. The integration of these countries in the EU would contribute to the stabilization of the situation and relations in the region, he said. Tadic said that the good bilateral relations are traditional, dating back from a very difficult time for Serbia. He expressed gratitude to Cyprus for its support to Serbia in the process of EU integration and to its defense of its territorial integrity in Kosovo. Cyprus is one of the five member states of the European Union which have not recognized the unilateral declaration. The two presidents, however, emphasized that much more must be done to foster economic cooperation, as bilateral trade totaled only EUR 15mn last year. Tadic was also scheduled to meet later with Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus Chrysostomos II. Christofias, Tadic in Nicosia on Thursday (Tanjug) Tadic to business community: State interest comes first President Boris Tadic sent a message to the Serbian business community that they should “protect Serbia's interests”. Speaking in Nicosia, Cyprus, the president stressed that Serbian businesses should not generate profit in Serbia while their companies were registered abroad. In a statement for Tanjug, Tadic said that his intention was not to interfere in the business activities and their freedom, but rather to call on them to “protect the interests of the country they are working in, the country where they were born”. "I noticed that many Serbian businessmen have companies registered in Cyprus. What I see as a potential problem, and this was also a problem at the time of Vojislav Kostunica, is that companies are being sold which realize profit on the Serbian market while they are registered in Cyprus. In this way, the money does not go to Serbia, but rather to the Cypriot banks, whereas the Serbian banks and state get no money from the taxes," Tadic stressed. He said that this should be stopped and that this is why he decided to send a clear message to the Serbian businessmen. Tadic and his Cypriot counterpart Demetris Christofias opened earlier in the day the Cypriot-Serbian business forum entitled 'Perspectives of economic cooperation between Cyprus and Serbia.'

Tadić, Christofias: Excellent relations

At a joint press conference after meeting Tadić, Christofias said that Cyprus supports Serbia and all Western Balkan countries on their path towards integration in the European Union.

The integration of these countries in the EU would contribute to the stabilization of the situation and relations in the region, he said.

Tadić said that the good bilateral relations are traditional, dating back from a very difficult time for Serbia.

He expressed gratitude to Cyprus for its support to Serbia in the process of EU integration and to its defense of its territorial integrity in Kosovo.

Cyprus is one of the five member states of the European Union which have not recognized the unilateral declaration.

The two presidents, however, emphasized that much more must be done to foster economic cooperation, as bilateral trade totaled only EUR 15mn last year.

Tadić was also scheduled to meet later with Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus Chrysostomos II.

Tadić to business community: State interest comes first

President Boris Tadić sent a message to the Serbian business community that they should “protect Serbia's interests”.

Speaking in Nicosia, Cyprus, the president stressed that Serbian businesses should not generate profit in Serbia while their companies were registered abroad.

In a statement for Tanjug, Tadić said that his intention was not to interfere in the business activities and their freedom, but rather to call on them to “protect the interests of the country they are working in, the country where they were born”.

"I noticed that many Serbian businessmen have companies registered in Cyprus. What I see as a potential problem, and this was also a problem at the time of Vojislav Koštunica, is that companies are being sold which realize profit on the Serbian market while they are registered in Cyprus. In this way, the money does not go to Serbia, but rather to the Cypriot banks, whereas the Serbian banks and state get no money from the taxes," Tadić stressed.

He said that this should be stopped and that this is why he decided to send a clear message to the Serbian businessmen.

Tadić and his Cypriot counterpart Demetris Christofias opened earlier in the day the Cypriot-Serbian business forum entitled 'Perspectives of economic cooperation between Cyprus and Serbia.'