Serbia, France agree strategic partnership

French and Serbian Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Boris Tadic agreed in Paris yesterday that there must be no new conditions for Serbia's EU integration. They also stated that they had reached agreement over the key elements of a strategic partnership between the two countries. Serbia, France agree strategic partnership The agreement would concern cooperation on Serbia's integration in European cultural, scientific, educational and economic structures, Tadic said Sarkozy told Tadic that Serbia needed to cooperate with the Kosovo institutions and to step up the hunt for the remaining Hague fugitives. He said that the arrest of Ratko Mladic and others was vital if Belgrade was to improve its relations with the rest of Europe. The French president conveyed his support for Serbia's EU integration and offered the aforesaid strategic partnership, which, Sarkozy suggested, could be signed in Belgrade. The Serbian president told the press that he was very pleased with the talks and that France strongly and openly supported Serbia's efforts towards full EU membership. “I received absolute assurances that France will be right behind Serbia on the issue of visa liberalization,“ Tadic told journalists, adding that he would be discussing the matter with other European leaders. “Scrapping visas is something we promised to Serbian citizens, visas are the final sanction towards our country, that affects not just the state, but citizens themselves, and I’ll do everything on my part, as will the Serbian government, to have visas scrapped as soon as possible,“ said the president. The talks had also focused on opening French schools in Serbia, scholarships for Serbian students, and scientific cooperation aimed at economic development, he said. “As regards economic cooperation, French companies are ideal partners in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, vehicle and electronic industries,“ he said. Sarkozy hoped to visit Serbia together with a group of French businessmen, Tadic said. The French leader said that no-one expected Serbia to recognize Kosovo, implicitly or explicitly, as a condition for EU integration, Tadic told the press, adding that this great political achievement was a result of the recent visit of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to Serbia and of the talks held on Wednesday in Paris. “Serbia and France still have different views on the future status of Kosovo, but France supports Serbia's contribution to regional stabilization by transferring this issue to legal territory,“ Tadic said. “Recognition of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence by France was painful for Serbia,“ he noted, adding that Serbia would continue to fight for its integrity by diplomatic means. “Serbia remains committed to negotiations in which a compromise solution must be found,“ he said. “Until these negotiations are held, hopefully after the International Court of Justice makes its ruling, it is essential to ensure peace and stability in the region and better chances for all, Serbs and Albanians alike,“ he said. “In order to define a future status of Kosovo in keeping with the interests of Serbia and the Serb and Albanian peoples, support is needed from countries with great sway in international politics, such as France,“ Tadic said. “France is a European leader, and I won’t stop talking with European leaders, without whose voice there is no compromise solution for Kosovo,“ said the president. The Serbian delegation, headed by Tadic, gave Sarkozy a replica of Miroslav’s Gospel. The other members of the delegation included Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic and Serbian Ambassador to Paris Dusan Batakovic. Boris Tadic, Nicolas Sarkozy (FoNet)

Serbia, France agree strategic partnership

The agreement would concern cooperation on Serbia's integration in European cultural, scientific, educational and economic structures, Tadić said

Sarkozy told Tadić that Serbia needed to cooperate with the Kosovo institutions and to step up the hunt for the remaining Hague fugitives. He said that the arrest of Ratko Mladić and others was vital if Belgrade was to improve its relations with the rest of Europe.

The French president conveyed his support for Serbia's EU integration and offered the aforesaid strategic partnership, which, Sarkozy suggested, could be signed in Belgrade.

The Serbian president told the press that he was very pleased with the talks and that France strongly and openly supported Serbia's efforts towards full EU membership.

“I received absolute assurances that France will be right behind Serbia on the issue of visa liberalization,“ Tadić told journalists, adding that he would be discussing the matter with other European leaders.

“Scrapping visas is something we promised to Serbian citizens, visas are the final sanction towards our country, that affects not just the state, but citizens themselves, and I’ll do everything on my part, as will the Serbian government, to have visas scrapped as soon as possible,“ said the president.

The talks had also focused on opening French schools in Serbia, scholarships for Serbian students, and scientific cooperation aimed at economic development, he said.

“As regards economic cooperation, French companies are ideal partners in sectors such as infrastructure, energy, vehicle and electronic industries,“ he said.

Sarkozy hoped to visit Serbia together with a group of French businessmen, Tadić said.

The French leader said that no-one expected Serbia to recognize Kosovo, implicitly or explicitly, as a condition for EU integration, Tadić told the press, adding that this great political achievement was a result of the recent visit of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to Serbia and of the talks held on Wednesday in Paris.

“Serbia and France still have different views on the future status of Kosovo, but France supports Serbia's contribution to regional stabilization by transferring this issue to legal territory,“ Tadić said.

“Recognition of Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence by France was painful for Serbia,“ he noted, adding that Serbia would continue to fight for its integrity by diplomatic means.

“Serbia remains committed to negotiations in which a compromise solution must be found,“ he said.

“Until these negotiations are held, hopefully after the International Court of Justice makes its ruling, it is essential to ensure peace and stability in the region and better chances for all, Serbs and Albanians alike,“ he said.

“In order to define a future status of Kosovo in keeping with the interests of Serbia and the Serb and Albanian peoples, support is needed from countries with great sway in international politics, such as France,“ Tadić said.

“France is a European leader, and I won’t stop talking with European leaders, without whose voice there is no compromise solution for Kosovo,“ said the president.

The Serbian delegation, headed by Tadić, gave Sarkozy a replica of Miroslav’s Gospel.

The other members of the delegation included Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić, Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić and Serbian Ambassador to Paris Dušan Bataković.