Slovak foreign minister arrives in Belgrade

Slovakia's Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak visited Belgrade on Thursday as an envoy of EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton. He met with Serbia’s Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and then with Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader and newly elected president of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic. Slovak foreign minister arrives in Belgrade The two discussed the relations between the EU and Serbia and the country's EU integration, the SNS told Tanjug. Nikolic said in talks with Lajcak that he opted for a quick formation of government and insisted on the continuation of Serbia's EU pathway. Lajcak congratulated Nikolic on the victory in the presidential runoff and wished him all the best in performing his future duties, the SNS said in a statement. During the meeting, Nikolic said that a new Serbian government would have to get to grips with the problems the people in Serbia were facing as soon as possible. He underlined that as the president he would insist in particular on the country's continuing down the EU path, reaching a consensus on the Kosovo issue, combat against corruption and crime and that he would also offer any possible assistance to the government in providing new jobs. Nikolic told Lajcak that his goal would be stabilization of the economic and social environment so that Serbia could become a normal and modern European country, the SNS stated in a release. Nikolic, who will today resign from his position in the party, said on Thursday that Brussels would be his first destination after the inauguration. SNS deputy leader Aleksandar Vucic, SNS official Jorgovanka Tabakovic and member of the party's international relations council Ljubica Vasic also attended the meeting. The media will receive a statement after the meeting, and Nikolic will not address the public before a meeting of the central committee, where he is supposed to resign as SNS president, the SNS stated. Lajcak will have a series of meetings with party leaders in Belgrade on Thursday. According to the Slovak Embassy, Lajcak will also meet with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac. According to earlier announcements, the topics on the agenda include the situation in Serbia following parliamentary, presidential, provincial and local elections, the formation of a new government, and Serbia's European integration and regional cooperation, reads the release from Bratislava. Lajcak and Serbian partners will discuss the development of bilateral cooperation and economic issues, said the Slovak Foreign Ministry. Slovakia's FM has said that he would also deliver message from EU officials. Tomislav Nikolic and Miroslav Lajcak are seen at the meeting (Tanjug) Beta Tanjug

Slovak foreign minister arrives in Belgrade

The two discussed the relations between the EU and Serbia and the country's EU integration, the SNS told Tanjug.

Nikolić said in talks with Lajčak that he opted for a quick formation of government and insisted on the continuation of Serbia's EU pathway.

Lajčak congratulated Nikolić on the victory in the presidential runoff and wished him all the best in performing his future duties, the SNS said in a statement.

During the meeting, Nikolić said that a new Serbian government would have to get to grips with the problems the people in Serbia were facing as soon as possible.

He underlined that as the president he would insist in particular on the country's continuing down the EU path, reaching a consensus on the Kosovo issue, combat against corruption and crime and that he would also offer any possible assistance to the government in providing new jobs.

Nikolić told Lajčak that his goal would be stabilization of the economic and social environment so that Serbia could become a normal and modern European country, the SNS stated in a release.

Nikolić, who will today resign from his position in the party, said on Thursday that Brussels would be his first destination after the inauguration.

SNS deputy leader Aleksandar Vučić, SNS official Jorgovanka Tabaković and member of the party's international relations council Ljubica Vasić also attended the meeting.

The media will receive a statement after the meeting, and Nikolić will not address the public before a meeting of the central committee, where he is supposed to resign as SNS president, the SNS stated.

Lajčak will have a series of meetings with party leaders in Belgrade on Thursday.

According to the Slovak Embassy, Lajčak will also meet with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić and Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac.

According to earlier announcements, the topics on the agenda include the situation in Serbia following parliamentary, presidential, provincial and local elections, the formation of a new government, and Serbia's European integration and regional cooperation, reads the release from Bratislava.

Lajčak and Serbian partners will discuss the development of bilateral cooperation and economic issues, said the Slovak Foreign Ministry.

Slovakia's FM has said that he would also deliver message from EU officials.