President meets U.S. secretary of state

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Belgrade this afternoon and started her visit to Serbia. Clinton arrived here from Bosnia, for meetings with top Serbian state officials, and first met with Serbian President Boris Tadic. President meets U.S. secretary of state Speaking at a joint news conference after the meeting, Tadic stated that Clinton's visit was the second visit by a high-profile U.S. official to Serbia, which allows the two countries to build their relations on a new basis. He pointed out that the challenges Serbia is currently facing are such that the country needs partnerships and cooperation with the biggest powers like the U.S. The Serbian president recalled that this is the second in line of bilateral visits after the visit of U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden, which according to him shows that after a number of years of misunderstanding and poor communication, Serbia is finally building relations with the U.S. on new foundations. Tadic also said that he confirmed Serbia's determination to build a strategic partnership with the U.S. during his meeting with Clinton, adding that "Serbia also wishes to close the chapter on its dark past by arresting war crimes indictees Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic". Even if the the Hague Tribunal were to cease to exist tomorrow, Serbia would continue the search for Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic in order to take all indictees to justice, Tadic said. Tadic also noted Serbia "does not and will never" recognize Kosovo, adding that it respects all legitimate rights of ethnic Albanians, but also protects its own legitimate rights. Serbia wants to reach a solution for Kosovo via peaceful and diplomatic means, said he, and added that the dialogue should start as soon as possible and include all issues that concern life in Kosovo. Clinton addressed reporters in Belgrade today to say that are issues on which Serbia and her country do not agree, such as Kosovo, but that the UN General Assembly resolution constitutes a basis for dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina which could bring about improvements. According to Clinton, the dialogue should focus on resolving daily issues. "The UN General Assembly decision can become a basis for dialogue and benefit the people in Kosovo and Serbia," Clinton said. She also welcomed "great progress" in relations between the two countries and Serbia's effort to join the EU, adding that Washington was dedicated to working with Serbia so that it could achieve this goal. Clinton said that the U.S. supported all countries of the region in their bid to join the EU, but that "no country has made as much effort as Serbia" to achieve that. EU integrations call for strong leadership, and Tadic has secured that, said Clinton. This was the first meeting between Tadic and Clinton. The meeting lasted just over an hour. The two met in private at first and were afterwards joined by their associates, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon and Serbia's ministers of foreign affairs and defense, Vuk Jeremic and Dragan Sutanovac. She will also meet with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. The visit comes as the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is expected to start in order to find solution to issues which, according to Clinton, are not easy to solve. Ahead of her Balkan tour the U.S. secretary of state said that her country and the EU were ready to help and facilitate but that it was up to the leaders and peoples to reach agreement and find a solution to their future. Clinton, Tadic are seen in Belgrade (Beta)

President meets U.S. secretary of state

Speaking at a joint news conference after the meeting, Tadić stated that Clinton's visit was the second visit by a high-profile U.S. official to Serbia, which allows the two countries to build their relations on a new basis.

He pointed out that the challenges Serbia is currently facing are such that the country needs partnerships and cooperation with the biggest powers like the U.S.

The Serbian president recalled that this is the second in line of bilateral visits after the visit of U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden, which according to him shows that after a number of years of misunderstanding and poor communication, Serbia is finally building relations with the U.S. on new foundations.

Tadić also said that he confirmed Serbia's determination to build a strategic partnership with the U.S. during his meeting with Clinton, adding that "Serbia also wishes to close the chapter on its dark past by arresting war crimes indictees Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić".

Even if the the Hague Tribunal were to cease to exist tomorrow, Serbia would continue the search for Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadžić in order to take all indictees to justice, Tadić said.

Tadić also noted Serbia "does not and will never" recognize Kosovo, adding that it respects all legitimate rights of ethnic Albanians, but also protects its own legitimate rights.

Serbia wants to reach a solution for Kosovo via peaceful and diplomatic means, said he, and added that the dialogue should start as soon as possible and include all issues that concern life in Kosovo.

Clinton addressed reporters in Belgrade today to say that are issues on which Serbia and her country do not agree, such as Kosovo, but that the UN General Assembly resolution constitutes a basis for dialogue between Belgrade and Priština which could bring about improvements.

According to Clinton, the dialogue should focus on resolving daily issues.

"The UN General Assembly decision can become a basis for dialogue and benefit the people in Kosovo and Serbia," Clinton said.

She also welcomed "great progress" in relations between the two countries and Serbia's effort to join the EU, adding that Washington was dedicated to working with Serbia so that it could achieve this goal.

Clinton said that the U.S. supported all countries of the region in their bid to join the EU, but that "no country has made as much effort as Serbia" to achieve that.

EU integrations call for strong leadership, and Tadić has secured that, said Clinton.

This was the first meeting between Tadić and Clinton.

The meeting lasted just over an hour. The two met in private at first and were afterwards joined by their associates, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon and Serbia's ministers of foreign affairs and defense, Vuk Jeremić and Dragan Šutanovac.

She will also meet with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković.

The visit comes as the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština is expected to start in order to find solution to issues which, according to Clinton, are not easy to solve.

Ahead of her Balkan tour the U.S. secretary of state said that her country and the EU were ready to help and facilitate but that it was up to the leaders and peoples to reach agreement and find a solution to their future.