Brnabic: France great ally of Serbia, lobbying for accelerating our EU path

PARIS - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic said on Wednesday France was a great ally and friend of Serbia and that her meetings with French officials in Paris had confirmed that.

France is one of the European countries that are the most supportive of Serbia, Brnabic said.

Speaking to reporters after a series of meetings and ahead of the Paris Peace Forum, Brnabic said France was lobbying for accelerating Serbia's EU path as well as for opening Cluster 3 in its accession talks by the end of the year.

"France is our great ally and it is completely clear to them what is going on in Serbia, they are looking at all the ways they can talk to (EU) member states that are more skeptical about Serbia," Brnabic said.

She added that her meetings in Paris had also addressed the constantly improving bilateral cooperation.

"The political cooperation is certainly better than it has ever been in our history, we have a strategic partnership, excellent cooperation between the two presidents," Brnabic said.

She also said economic cooperation, which she noted had improved in the past five years, was on par with the good political ties.

She said the number of strong French companies that were active in Serbia was growing.

"Defence cooperation is constantly improving and has culminated in the purchase of 12 Rafale jets. Many topics have been opened for future cooperation, especially in the energy sector. But what I think is important for our people and all our citizens is to know that France is a great friend, a great ally of Serbia, and that that was confirmed today, too," Brnabic said.

She also said France was the biggest advocate of Serb rights in Kosovo-Metohija and that, in international organisations and institutions, it pointed to the difficult position of Serbs in the southern province and urging the EU to change its position on the issue.