Deputy PM: Govt. priority is EU integration

BELGRADE Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Aleksandar Vucic met on Monday in Belgrade with Italian Foreign Minister of Italy Giulio Terzi. Vucic stressed that EU integration is a priority of the new government. Deputy PM: Govt. priority is EU integration Terzi said that Rome will continue to support Serbia in this respect. Vucic underlined that Serbia will not abandon the European path because its future is in the EU and noted that the new government is not promising much, but that it will fulfill its promises. He said that European integration, regional and bilateral cooperation and the fight against systemic corruption are the priorities of the new government. Terzi stated that Rome will continue to support Serbia in the process of European integration, noting that the upcoming Serbian-Italian summit will show the quality of relations of the two countries and Italy's wish to establish close ties with the new government. He announced that a special attention will be paid to increasing the number of Italian investments in Serbia, the government office for cooperation with the media said in a statement. Vucic thanked the government of Italy for supporting Serbia's European integration and said that he will advocate the adoption of an economic program that would guarantee security to foreign investors and simplify legal procedures. Earlier in the day, the visiting Italian minister separately met with Serbia's president and prime minister. Terzi and Vucic meet in Belgrade (Beta) "Italy believes in better future for Serbia" Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said in Belgrade on Monday that Italy believes in a better future for Serbia, and would continue to support the country on its EU road. Together with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic, Terzi announced plans to organize the third Italy-Serbia summit in Rome next year. Italy has been a great friend of Serbia on its EU path for quite a long time, and is offering great assistance to the country in this respect. We will continue to back Serbia, even after the EU opens entry talks with the country, Terzi said at a joint press conference, adding that the relations between the two countries are excellent, and contacts quite intensive. Regarding the economic cooperation with Serbia, Italy takes into account several joint projects at all levels that are aimed at creating new jobs and further deepening the cooperation between two countries, he underscored. Italy is also very interested in strengthening the cooperation with Serbia by launching projects aimed at building infrastructure through regional mechanisms such as the Central European Initiative and Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, Terzi said. The cooperation between Serbia and Italy is also excellent at the level of international organizations, he underlined. The United Nations is an excellent example of that, Terzi said, noting that Italy takes great plasure in the fact that Serbia would be presiding over the 67 session of the UN General Assembly. Italy and Serbia are strategic partners, Mrkic said, underlining that Italy is a partner “on which we are counting“. Speaking about the successful economic cooperation between the two countries, Mrkic noted that Italy is a significant investor in Serbia. Terzi is the first foreign official that has visited Serbia following the formation of the new government, Mrkic said, voicing satisfaction about the fact. The Italian foreign minister thanked Serbian officials for underlining that fact, and added that is a confirmation of the friendly bilateral relations. Terzi and Mrkic address reporters in Belgrade (Tanjug) Tanjug

Deputy PM: Govt. priority is EU integration

Terzi said that Rome will continue to support Serbia in this respect.

Vučić underlined that Serbia will not abandon the European path because its future is in the EU and noted that the new government is not promising much, but that it will fulfill its promises.

He said that European integration, regional and bilateral cooperation and the fight against systemic corruption are the priorities of the new government.

Terzi stated that Rome will continue to support Serbia in the process of European integration, noting that the upcoming Serbian-Italian summit will show the quality of relations of the two countries and Italy's wish to establish close ties with the new government.

He announced that a special attention will be paid to increasing the number of Italian investments in Serbia, the government office for cooperation with the media said in a statement.

Vučić thanked the government of Italy for supporting Serbia's European integration and said that he will advocate the adoption of an economic program that would guarantee security to foreign investors and simplify legal procedures.

Earlier in the day, the visiting Italian minister separately met with Serbia's president and prime minister.

"Italy believes in better future for Serbia"

Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said in Belgrade on Monday that Italy believes in a better future for Serbia, and would continue to support the country on its EU road.

Together with Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkić, Terzi announced plans to organize the third Italy-Serbia summit in Rome next year.

Italy has been a great friend of Serbia on its EU path for quite a long time, and is offering great assistance to the country in this respect. We will continue to back Serbia, even after the EU opens entry talks with the country, Terzi said at a joint press conference, adding that the relations between the two countries are excellent, and contacts quite intensive.

Regarding the economic cooperation with Serbia, Italy takes into account several joint projects at all levels that are aimed at creating new jobs and further deepening the cooperation between two countries, he underscored.

Italy is also very interested in strengthening the cooperation with Serbia by launching projects aimed at building infrastructure through regional mechanisms such as the Central European Initiative and Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, Terzi said.

The cooperation between Serbia and Italy is also excellent at the level of international organizations, he underlined.

The United Nations is an excellent example of that, Terzi said, noting that Italy takes great plasure in the fact that Serbia would be presiding over the 67 session of the UN General Assembly.

Italy and Serbia are strategic partners, Mrkić said, underlining that Italy is a partner “on which we are counting“.

Speaking about the successful economic cooperation between the two countries, Mrkić noted that Italy is a significant investor in Serbia.

Terzi is the first foreign official that has visited Serbia following the formation of the new government, Mrkić said, voicing satisfaction about the fact.

The Italian foreign minister thanked Serbian officials for underlining that fact, and added that is a confirmation of the friendly bilateral relations.