Serbian prime minister receives Czech counterpart

BELGRADE Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Necas has arrive on an official visit to Serbia on Monday, where he is meeting with top Serbian officials. Petr Necas said in the talks with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic on Monday that the Czech Republic believes Serbia's prompt EU accession "should be one of the priorities of the Brussels administration". Serbian prime minister receives Czech counterpart The Serbian prime minister noted that Belgrade "must not miss the chance to make a new breakthrough in the European integration process in the next six months". After the meeting with Dacic to discuss the possibilities of deepening the two countries' political and economic cooperation, Necas stated that he informed the Serbian prime minister that the Czech Republic fully supports Serbia's progress in the integration process. "We are aware that the Kosovo issue is sensitive for Serbia but the continuation of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue bears key importance," Necas said and commended on the progress made over the past few months and the latest report of the European Commission which is very positive. He underscored that Serbia is a country subject to considerable prejudice in the EU, which is why Belgrade's constructive attitude in the dialogue with Pristina is important although success of any dialogue requires the willingness of both sides. Dacic expressed gratitude to the Prague government on its support to Serbia within the EU and pointed out that the Czech Republic is one of the strongest advocates of the need for setting Serbia's date of accession talks as soon as possible. Since the EU Council decided to discuss this matter in the next six months, Serbia will need the support of the Czech Republic in the coming months, Dacic said and added that Serbia must not miss the chance to make new steps ahead in the integration process because if it misses this opportunity, it will probably have to wait until 2014. The two prime ministers also attached great attention to the possibility of development of bilateral economic relations and reflected on tangible results achieved in the areas of traffic and energy. Dacic recalled that th4e commercial exchange between the two countries totals around EUR 0,5 million with the Czech Republic ranking as Serbia's "15th partner in the world and 10th among EU member countries". According to Dacic, in order to ensure further development of bilateral relations, the two countries need to hold regular political consultations and economic contacts so as to achieve all the potentials of cooperation. Necas expressed satisfaction over the increase of trade of over 50 percent in the previous year, adding that current activities of Czech companies in Serbia set a good example of successful cooperation. He underscored that the Czech Republic is particularly interested in certain projects, such as the electrification of Nis-Dimitrovgrad railway line in southeastern Serbia, mine expansion and construction of thermal power plant Stavalj in southwestern Serbia. The Czech government announced earlier that Necas would also meet with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic. The main topics will be advancement of bilateral relations, European issues and Serbia's preparations for EU membership, and advancement of economic cooperation in light of which prime ministers Necas and Dacic will open a Czech-Serbian business forum. The Czech delegation includes Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Kuba. (Beta) Tanjug

Serbian prime minister receives Czech counterpart

The Serbian prime minister noted that Belgrade "must not miss the chance to make a new breakthrough in the European integration process in the next six months".

After the meeting with Dačić to discuss the possibilities of deepening the two countries' political and economic cooperation, Nečas stated that he informed the Serbian prime minister that the Czech Republic fully supports Serbia's progress in the integration process.

"We are aware that the Kosovo issue is sensitive for Serbia but the continuation of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue bears key importance," Nečas said and commended on the progress made over the past few months and the latest report of the European Commission which is very positive.

He underscored that Serbia is a country subject to considerable prejudice in the EU, which is why Belgrade's constructive attitude in the dialogue with Priština is important although success of any dialogue requires the willingness of both sides.

Dačić expressed gratitude to the Prague government on its support to Serbia within the EU and pointed out that the Czech Republic is one of the strongest advocates of the need for setting Serbia's date of accession talks as soon as possible.

Since the EU Council decided to discuss this matter in the next six months, Serbia will need the support of the Czech Republic in the coming months, Dačić said and added that Serbia must not miss the chance to make new steps ahead in the integration process because if it misses this opportunity, it will probably have to wait until 2014.

The two prime ministers also attached great attention to the possibility of development of bilateral economic relations and reflected on tangible results achieved in the areas of traffic and energy.

Dačić recalled that th4e commercial exchange between the two countries totals around EUR 0,5 million with the Czech Republic ranking as Serbia's "15th partner in the world and 10th among EU member countries".

According to Dačić, in order to ensure further development of bilateral relations, the two countries need to hold regular political consultations and economic contacts so as to achieve all the potentials of cooperation.

Nečas expressed satisfaction over the increase of trade of over 50 percent in the previous year, adding that current activities of Czech companies in Serbia set a good example of successful cooperation.

He underscored that the Czech Republic is particularly interested in certain projects, such as the electrification of Niš-Dimitrovgrad railway line in southeastern Serbia, mine expansion and construction of thermal power plant Štavalj in southwestern Serbia.

The Czech government announced earlier that Nečas would also meet with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and parliament Speaker Nebojša Stefanović.

The main topics will be advancement of bilateral relations, European issues and Serbia's preparations for EU membership, and advancement of economic cooperation in light of which prime ministers Nečas and Dacic will open a Czech-Serbian business forum.

The Czech delegation includes Minister of Industry and Trade Martin Kuba.