French President Emmanuel Macron wrote to his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, saying that bilateral relations were based on “friendly, ancient and deep ties,” and confirming his plans to visit Serbia “as soon as an opportunity arises.”
“Relations between the two countries are based on friendly, ancient and deep ties, and marked very strongly by brotherhood in arms, which united the two nations during the First World War and consolidated our friendship,” President Macron said in the letter,
Vucic travelled to Paris on 11th December, following the invitation by President Macron. Vucic was the only Western Balkan representative at the “One Planet” Summit, marking the second anniversary of the Paris climate agreement.
In the letter, Macron described Serbia as France’s “important strategic partner,” welcoming Vucic’s actions to boost the stability of the Western Balkans.
“France supports your country’s accession to the European Union, remaining a pillar of stability and economic development on the continent. Over the past years, your government has been working resolutely to strengthen the stability of the Western Balkans and it economic development, which I salute,” the French president said.
Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic was a also guest at the Elysee Palace, at a festive lunch hosted by the French President, Emmanuel Macron for the heads of states and governments who participated in the climate conference in the French capital. Vucic was the only president from the Western Balkan region whom Macron invited to attend the climate summit and subsequently the lunch.
The two presidents previously met at the Bloomberg Conference on the margins of the autumn session of the UN General Assembly in late September.
At a press conference in Paris, Vucic was asked to comment on Serbia opening two new chapters in the EU negotiation process, and only said: “Two chapters are just two chapters. That’s it. I would like to thank them (the EU) for opening even these two. Let them open as many chapters as they want to. That’s all I have to say.”
To remind, Serbia has recently opened two chapters (6 and 30) in the EU accession negotiation process despite five EU members objecting to Serbia not having a great success in conducting reforms, especially those in the areas such as the rule of law, fighting corruption and restructuring the judiciary system.
(Beta, Politika, 13.12.2017)
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