President embarks on France visit

President Boris Tadic arrived on a two-day working visit to France on Wednesday, where he will hold talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. During his stay in Paris, Tadic will give a lecture at the French Institute of International Relations and unveil a memorial plaque for the fallen First World War Serb soldiers. President embarks on France visit The Serbian delegation, which includes Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, will present Serbia's endeavors for integration into Europe, especially in the field of economy, and prospects for investments by French companies in Serbia, Tanjug reports. Along with estimates that a lot more can de done in the field of cooperation, announcements have already been made in Paris on the arrival of a big delegation of French businessmen on June 10-11, which will investigate the possibilities for a further enhancement of economic relations, particularly in the field of infrastructure and transportation, the report said. Ahead of the visit, Tadic told Paris daily Le Figato that he wants the two countries to establish a strategic partnership "that would resemble the relations from the golden era" – the period before the First World War. "My priority is that Serbia becomes a country with a true legal system. Historically speaking, France is our role model," he was also quoted as saying. "National interests demand from us to carry out reforms to that effect, and once these reforms have been realized, our integration into the European Union will take its natural course." As for the "sensitive issue of Kosovo", Figaro noted that Tadic had succeeded in "shifting the issue from the interior onto the legal terrain", since Serbia had managed to present the issue of unilateral proclamation before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). "Serbia shall never recognize the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence," Tadic told the daily. "We cannot accept that the Albanians get everything and that the Serbs lose everything; this is contrary to any kind of compromise." "Sooner or later, the negotiations will continue in a more calm atmosphere, because Kosovo will not be able to get a UN seat without our agreement. Great progress, compared to the past, is that nobody is considering solving the dispute by using force," said Tadic. Speaking about the region, he stated that the political elites in the Balkans "have understood the danger of nationalist megalomania, seen in the ideas of greater Serbia, greater Croatia, greater Albania". "All Balkan countries now strive toward EU integration, which is good. It's a path of peace and prosperity for the region," said Tadic. Boris Tadic (Tanjug)

President embarks on France visit

The Serbian delegation, which includes Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić, will present Serbia's endeavors for integration into Europe, especially in the field of economy, and prospects for investments by French companies in Serbia, Tanjug reports.

Along with estimates that a lot more can de done in the field of cooperation, announcements have already been made in Paris on the arrival of a big delegation of French businessmen on June 10-11, which will investigate the possibilities for a further enhancement of economic relations, particularly in the field of infrastructure and transportation, the report said.

Ahead of the visit, Tadić told Paris daily Le Figato that he wants the two countries to establish a strategic partnership "that would resemble the relations from the golden era" – the period before the First World War.

"My priority is that Serbia becomes a country with a true legal system. Historically speaking, France is our role model," he was also quoted as saying.

"National interests demand from us to carry out reforms to that effect, and once these reforms have been realized, our integration into the European Union will take its natural course."

As for the "sensitive issue of Kosovo", Figaro noted that Tadić had succeeded in "shifting the issue from the interior onto the legal terrain", since Serbia had managed to present the issue of unilateral proclamation before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

"Serbia shall never recognize the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence," Tadić told the daily. "We cannot accept that the Albanians get everything and that the Serbs lose everything; this is contrary to any kind of compromise."

"Sooner or later, the negotiations will continue in a more calm atmosphere, because Kosovo will not be able to get a UN seat without our agreement. Great progress, compared to the past, is that nobody is considering solving the dispute by using force," said Tadić.

Speaking about the region, he stated that the political elites in the Balkans "have understood the danger of nationalist megalomania, seen in the ideas of greater Serbia, greater Croatia, greater Albania".

"All Balkan countries now strive toward EU integration, which is good. It's a path of peace and prosperity for the region," said Tadić.