Djuric receives new French ambassador

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with new French Ambassador to Belgrade Florence Ferrari on Monday, expressing the belief that successful and constructive cooperation aimed at further advancement of Serbia-France relations would be continued during her tenure.

Wishing Ferrari success in her ambassadorial term, Djuric said a strategic partnership initiated nearly 15 years ago, intensive political dialogue helped greatly by regular meetings between Presidents Aleksandar Vucic and Emmanuel Macron and other high-level meetings, as well as a continuous exchange of views on the most important views represented a testimony to the level of Serbia-France relations, and expressed the hope his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot would visit Serbia, too, the Serbian MFA said in a statement.

Speaking about the situation in Kosovo-Metohija, Djuric especially addressed the threat faced by Serbs in the province as a result of a series of unilateral moves by Pristina, and noted that security must be ensured to the Serb population and that commitments from agreements reached to date must be met.

Djuric reiterated that EU membership was Serbia's strategic commitment and foreign policy priority and thanked France for its support to date when it comes to Serbia's European perspective.

Commenting on regional affairs, Djuric noted that Serbia was clearly committed to peace and stability at home as well as in the region.

The parties discussed bilateral cooperation, with special emphasis economic ties, and noted that it had been developing intensively in the past several years and expanding to new areas.