Serbian, French presidents: Serbia must continue reforms

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Serbian President Boris Tadic have agreed that Serbia needs to continue implementing reforms in order to join the EU. The Serbian president has stated that the strategic partnership agreement with France, which was signed on Friday in Paris, includes cooperation in several fields but that it also obliges Serbia to complete the reforms. Serbian, French presidents: Serbia must continue reforms He pointed out that Serbia expected France’s clear support regarding obtaining of the EU candidate status and a date for the beginning of the accession negotiations. “Strategic partnership includes cooperation in the field of European integration, modernization, administration and training of people who work in the state institutions, as well as cooperation in the field of defense,” Tadic pointed out after the meeting with the French president. Commenting on the results of the three-day visit, during which he also met with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and other officials, the Serbian president said that it “was an opportunity to renew old friendship and alliance with France”. Boris Tadic and Nicolas Sarkozy (Beta) "France best advocate for Serbia's EU candidacy" Sarkozy told the Serbian president on Friday that Paris would be the best advocate for Serbia's EU membership candidacy. “France fully supports Serbia's European perspective and Serbia does not have a better advocate in Europe for promoting its integration,” Sarkozy told his Serbian counterpart during their meeting in Paris, reads the release quoted by AFP. Sarkozy stressed it was important that Serbia continued reforms in order to improve the rule of law and do everything in its power to arrest the two remaining Hague fugitives, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic. “This is the parameter the EU will take into consideration,” reads the release from the French president's office.

Serbian, French presidents: Serbia must continue reforms

He pointed out that Serbia expected France’s clear support regarding obtaining of the EU candidate status and a date for the beginning of the accession negotiations.

“Strategic partnership includes cooperation in the field of European integration, modernization, administration and training of people who work in the state institutions, as well as cooperation in the field of defense,” Tadić pointed out after the meeting with the French president.

Commenting on the results of the three-day visit, during which he also met with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and other officials, the Serbian president said that it “was an opportunity to renew old friendship and alliance with France”.

"France best advocate for Serbia's EU candidacy"

Sarkozy told the Serbian president on Friday that Paris would be the best advocate for Serbia's EU membership candidacy.

“France fully supports Serbia's European perspective and Serbia does not have a better advocate in Europe for promoting its integration,” Sarkozy told his Serbian counterpart during their meeting in Paris, reads the release quoted by AFP.

Sarkozy stressed it was important that Serbia continued reforms in order to improve the rule of law and do everything in its power to arrest the two remaining Hague fugitives, Ratko Mladić and Goran Hadžić.

“This is the parameter the EU will take into consideration,” reads the release from the French president's office.