Deputy PM: Serbia expects Britain’s help on EU pathway

LONDON Serbia's First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic said Thursday in London that the relations between Serbia and Great Britain were on an upswing in all areas. He added that he expected London to offer Serbia significant support on its EU pathway. Deputy PM: Serbia expects Britain’s help on EU pathway "We have been promised that Great Britain will assist Serbia on its European path," Vucic told Tanjug. He said he had important meetings in the British capital, noting that his meeting with UK Defense Secretary Philip Hammond was the first between the two countries' defense ministers after many years. The Serbian official also conferred with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, Minister for Europe David Lidington, and representatives of intelligence agencies, including MI6. On Wednesday, he met with members of the House of Lords EU committee. "We talked about Great Britain's policy toward Serbia, European integration, our economic, political and military relations, and we agreed that our relations have been on an upswing in all areas, that we are furthering our cooperation, getting all of the numbers up, but also that we can do all of this much faster," said Vucic. "Of course, we also discussed Kosovo, all burning issues and topics that are not easy for us, but I think we will have an ally in Great Britain in the future and Great Britain will have a reliable, serious partner in Serbia," he noted. Serbia's delegation that wrapped up its visit to Great Britain on Wednesday also included Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic. Aleksandar Vucic (Beta, file) Tanjug

Deputy PM: Serbia expects Britain’s help on EU pathway

"We have been promised that Great Britain will assist Serbia on its European path," Vučić told Tanjug.

He said he had important meetings in the British capital, noting that his meeting with UK Defense Secretary Philip Hammond was the first between the two countries' defense ministers after many years.

The Serbian official also conferred with British Foreign Secretary William Hague, Minister for Europe David Lidington, and representatives of intelligence agencies, including MI6.

On Wednesday, he met with members of the House of Lords EU committee.

"We talked about Great Britain's policy toward Serbia, European integration, our economic, political and military relations, and we agreed that our relations have been on an upswing in all areas, that we are furthering our cooperation, getting all of the numbers up, but also that we can do all of this much faster," said Vučić.

"Of course, we also discussed Kosovo, all burning issues and topics that are not easy for us, but I think we will have an ally in Great Britain in the future and Great Britain will have a reliable, serious partner in Serbia," he noted.

Serbia's delegation that wrapped up its visit to Great Britain on Wednesday also included Parliament Speaker Nebojša Stefanović.