In his appearance on TV Pink, Minister Selakovic said that it came as no surprise to him that a meeting between the two officials would be held the next day, noting that the agenda will be highly substantial.

"Serbia and France, especially since President Macron's arrival at the helm of France and reviving the former strategic partnership agreement, have been tied by a number of things. In addition to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which is immensely important of course, there is also our country's progress in the EU accession process and the ever more substantive economic cooperation and increasing French investments in Serbia", Selakovic said.

President Vucic: Meeting with Macron for the 11th time tomorrow - to discuss Kosovo and Metohija, EU and bilateral relations

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated tonight in Paris, ahead of tommorow's meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, that this would be their 11th meeting so far, and that key topics would include Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia's European integration and bilateral relations between the two countries.

"We will discuss many important issues, this is our 11th meeting so far. Macron is one of the most important world leaders and a sincere friend of Serbia, and his visit to Serbia in 2019 was of historic significance for our relations, and since then our political and economic cooperation have been on the ascent", President Vucic told TV Pink.

The President informed that the key topics would include Kosovo and Metohija, European integration of Serbia and bilateral relations between Serbia and France, most notably the economic relations.

When it comes to Kosovo and Metohija, Vucic pointed out that France would hold EU Presidency in the first half of 2022, and that this country, he said, wanted certain results to be achieved by then.

"Having in mind the gravity of the situation we are facing in the entire Balkans, this is not easy at all, but I will be very honest and I will speak openly with Macron about it", Vucic announced.

Regarding the European integration of Serbia, Vucic pointed out that it was important to finally, on the basis of the proposal made by France to the EC, and which Serbia accepted, apply the new methodology.

"To open more chapters, through the so-called clusters by June, and twice as many by December. But we have important things to do in the area of the rule of law and need to progress economically", Vucic said.

Speaking about bilateral relations, Vucic reminded that the trade in goods between Serbia and France reached 1.2 billion in 2019, and that it would have been even higher today, instead of falling by six percent over 11 months of last year, if it were not for the corona virus pandemic.

President Vucic said that the projects being implemented with French companies were important for Serbia, namely the Vinca landfill one with SUEZ, airport being built at a fast pace by Vinci, and surely the construction of the metro as well.

"The construction of the metro is no longer just a story, an election promise, but a reality that will happen. With the metro, Belgrade will secure important advantages for itself and become equal to many important European centers", Vucic said.

When asked whether 2028 was a realistic deadline for its construction, Vucic said that efforts will be made to have it finished it by the end of 2027 or 2028.

"We will discuss this tomorrow in more detail and in greater scope, I will talk to Macron further. The funding has been secured, 80 million through the vault of the Bank of France, and the rest through commercial banks. We have no problems with public debt", Vucic said.

Source: Tanjug

31 January 2021