Cyprus supports Serbia’s Kosovo policy, EU pathway

BELGRADE The first summit of the Serbian and Cypriot governments, which will see a number of bilateral and plenary meetings, started on Wednesday in Belgrade. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias exchanged state decorations as a token of gratitude for the contribution to the friendly international cooperation, support and assistance between the two countries. Cyprus supports Serbia’s Kosovo policy, EU pathway The summit was opened by a meeting between Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Telecommunications Minister Rasim Ljajic and Cypriot Justice and Public Order Minister Loukas Louka. Louka conveyed a firm stance of the Cypriot government in talks with Ljajic that it would never recognize Kosovo's independence, stressing that the only right way to solving the Kosovo issue was respect of the norms of the international right. Ljajic expressed gratitude to the Cypriot government for its support to Serbia's EU integration process, and Cypriot's principled stance not to recognize Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence. Dimitris Christofias and Tomislav Nikolic (Tanjug) Ljajic, who is also the trade and telecommunications minister, conferred with Louka, representing the Cypriot minister of commerce, industry and tourism, on the promotion of the Serbia-Cypriot relations, and possibilities of enlargement of the economic cooperation and trade. Ljajic and Louka agreed that good bilateral relations should be accompanied by adequate level of economic cooperation. The two parties agreed that there was much room for promotion of economic cooperation in the areas of agriculture, food and pharmaceutical industry, infrastructure and tourism. Ljajic and Louka agreed that organization of a business forum of the two countries in the third quarter of the year would be an excellent opportunity for establishing better contacts between businessmen and defining concrete forms of cooperation. Serbian and Cypriot Foreign Ministers Ivan Mrkic and Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis respectively, had a meeting at the Palace of Serbia, while Serbian government's European Integration Office Director Milan Pajevic met with Permanent Secretary of the Cypriot Planning Bureau Georgios Georgiou. Rasim Ljajic and Loukas Louka (Tanjug) Pajevic said at the meeting with Cypriot officials that the Serbian government was determined to proceed to address relations with Pristina, with the support of the EU. “Cyprus supports Serbia on its EU path and we are determined to be available to you with our experience and expertise in this field,” Georgiou said at the meeting with Pajevic. Pajevic informed his Cypriot interlocutors about government activities in the process of European integration related to harmonization of national regulations and standards with the EU acquis, the European Integration Office released in a statement. The officials also discussed possibilities for cooperation in this field, particularly the ways in which Cyprus could support Serbia at the expert level, in order for the process of accession to be as efficient as possible. The series of meetings will also include those between State Secretary at the Serbian Ministry of Defense Aleksander Nikolic and Cypriot Defense Minister Demetris Eliades, between Serbian Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Minster Zorana Mihajlovic and Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, and between Serbian Transportation Minster Milutin Mrkonjic and his counterpart Efthymios Flourendzos, who will also meet with Serbia's Finance and Economy Minister Mladjan Dinkic. Finally, a meeting will be held between Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and Louka. Nikolic and Christofias will hold a joint press conference during the day and representatives of the two governments will do the same after the summit. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis and Ivan Mrkic (Tanjug) Beta Tanjug

Cyprus supports Serbia’s Kosovo policy, EU pathway

The summit was opened by a meeting between Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Telecommunications Minister Rasim Ljajić and Cypriot Justice and Public Order Minister Loukas Louka.

Louka conveyed a firm stance of the Cypriot government in talks with Ljajić that it would never recognize Kosovo's independence, stressing that the only right way to solving the Kosovo issue was respect of the norms of the international right.

Ljajić expressed gratitude to the Cypriot government for its support to Serbia's EU integration process, and Cypriot's principled stance not to recognize Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence. Ljajić, who is also the trade and telecommunications minister, conferred with Louka, representing the Cypriot minister of commerce, industry and tourism, on the promotion of the Serbia-Cypriot relations, and possibilities of enlargement of the economic cooperation and trade.

Ljajić and Louka agreed that good bilateral relations should be accompanied by adequate level of economic cooperation.

The two parties agreed that there was much room for promotion of economic cooperation in the areas of agriculture, food and pharmaceutical industry, infrastructure and tourism.

Ljajić and Louka agreed that organization of a business forum of the two countries in the third quarter of the year would be an excellent opportunity for establishing better contacts between businessmen and defining concrete forms of cooperation.

Serbian and Cypriot Foreign Ministers Ivan Mrkić and Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis respectively, had a meeting at the Palace of Serbia, while Serbian government's European Integration Office Director Milan Pajević met with Permanent Secretary of the Cypriot Planning Bureau Georgios Georgiou. Pajević said at the meeting with Cypriot officials that the Serbian government was determined to proceed to address relations with Priština, with the support of the EU.

“Cyprus supports Serbia on its EU path and we are determined to be available to you with our experience and expertise in this field,” Georgiou said at the meeting with Pajević.

Pajević informed his Cypriot interlocutors about government activities in the process of European integration related to harmonization of national regulations and standards with the EU acquis, the European Integration Office released in a statement.

The officials also discussed possibilities for cooperation in this field, particularly the ways in which Cyprus could support Serbia at the expert level, in order for the process of accession to be as efficient as possible.

The series of meetings will also include those between State Secretary at the Serbian Ministry of Defense Aleksander Nikolić and Cypriot Defense Minister Demetris Eliades, between Serbian Energy, Development and Environmental Protection Minster Zorana Mihajlović and Cypriot Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, and between Serbian Transportation Minster Milutin Mrkonjić and his counterpart Efthymios Flourendzos, who will also meet with Serbia's Finance and Economy Minister Mlađan Dinkić.

Finally, a meeting will be held between Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dačić and Louka.

Nikolić and Christofias will hold a joint press conference during the day and representatives of the two governments will do the same after the summit.