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Jeremic, Kouchner discuss Strategic Partnership Agreement
Belgrade/Paris,
9 October 2009
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic stated in Paris today that the main topic of yesterday’s talks with his counterpart Bernard Kouchner was the Agreement on Strategic Partnership between Serbia and France.
Bernard Kouchner and Vuk Jeremic
Author:
Fonet
Jeremic, who is on a working visit to France, told the Tanjug news agency that Serbian and French Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Boris Tadic reached agreement about this document in May, adding that he and Kouchner discussed the possibility of raising it to a higher level.
He explained that initially this was supposed to be a protocol on partnership, similar to those that were signed with the majority of eastern European countries during their EU integration processes, but in Serbia’s case it may have the form of an agreement, which is a higher level of interstate document.
The Minister stressed that this shows how much importance France attributes to Serbia’s EU integration, adding that the draft agreement will soon be finished and the Agreement finalised by the end of November, when Kouchner is to visit Belgrade.
The Agreement will be signed by the Serbian and French Presidents during Sarkozy’s visit to Belgrade, Jeremic announced, adding that he and Kouchner agreed that visa liberalisation for Serbian citizens is an absolute priority.
Kouchner voiced his expectation that this issue will be formally decided upon at the November meeting of European foreign ministers, adding that he does not anticipate any problems.
The Ministers agreed that the enthusiasm for EU integration that has sprung up from the Irish Yes vote should be maintained, adding that there should be no delays in the Western Balkan’s accession to the EU.
Kouchner underlined that Paris was deeply moved by Serbia’s stance on the tragic death of French national Brice Taton, who succumbed to the injuries he received during a hooligan attack in central Belgrade, adding that this tragic event will not affect the relations between the two countries.
He explained that initially this was supposed to be a protocol on partnership, similar to those that were signed with the majority of eastern European countries during their EU integration processes, but in Serbia’s case it may have the form of an agreement, which is a higher level of interstate document.
The Minister stressed that this shows how much importance France attributes to Serbia’s EU integration, adding that the draft agreement will soon be finished and the Agreement finalised by the end of November, when Kouchner is to visit Belgrade.
The Agreement will be signed by the Serbian and French Presidents during Sarkozy’s visit to Belgrade, Jeremic announced, adding that he and Kouchner agreed that visa liberalisation for Serbian citizens is an absolute priority.
Kouchner voiced his expectation that this issue will be formally decided upon at the November meeting of European foreign ministers, adding that he does not anticipate any problems.
The Ministers agreed that the enthusiasm for EU integration that has sprung up from the Irish Yes vote should be maintained, adding that there should be no delays in the Western Balkan’s accession to the EU.
Kouchner underlined that Paris was deeply moved by Serbia’s stance on the tragic death of French national Brice Taton, who succumbed to the injuries he received during a hooligan attack in central Belgrade, adding that this tragic event will not affect the relations between the two countries.
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