Djuric meets with Austria's Meinl-Reisinger

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with Austrian counterpart Beate Meinl-Reisinger in Belgrade on Tuesday to discuss economic cooperation, the political situation in Serbia, EU integration and the situation in Kosovo-Metohija.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Djuric noted that Austria was a major contributor to economic development in the region and one of the largest investors in Serbia, with Austrian companies employing thousands of Serbians.

"Serbia is a country that is seeing accelerated economic growth and represents an excellent opportunity not only for Austrian businesses, but for other businesses as well," Djuric said.

He said he was pleased the Austrian minister was visiting Serbia just one month into the term of the new Serbian government.

"That confirms Austria's interest in cooperation with the region and Serbia, and demonstrates Austria's desire to work with us even more deeply on the European agenda in the coming period," Djuric said, adding that Serbia had a desire to meet all conditions for EU membership.

He noted that Serbia was working intensively on overcoming internal problems and establishing dialogue.

Djuric said the meeting with Meinl-Reisinger had also addressed the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and that he had noted that the rights of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija must be protected.

Meinl-Reisinger said she was pleased to be in Belgrade for a second time.

She noted that the partnership with Serbia was very important for Austria.

"I am very proud of the close economic cooperation of the more than 800 Austrian companies that are operating in Serbia. Yesterday, I had an opportunity to meet with representatives of those companies at dinner. Austrian companies provide 24,000 jobs in Serbia," Meinl-Reisinger said.