Vucic thanks Slovakia for supporting Serbia on EU path

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday he was grateful to Slovakia for its sincere support for Serbia on the EU path.

Vucic said this at a joint press conference with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, adding that a meeting with his counterpart had addressed global affairs and that they had agreed that preservation of peace was in the greatest interest of both countries.

"We have to help each other and work to preserve peace for our nations, which are great nations in terms of dignity and pride. I am grateful for Slovakia's sincere support provided to us on the European path and for its open, brave decision to highlight that support everywhere," Vucic said at the Palace of Serbia.

He said he was also grateful to Pellegrini and Slovak PM Robert Fico for their sincere, open and courageous support.

"We are connected with Slovakia by a long historical tradition and closeness with its people, and we are ready to continue to work together. Thank you once again for being in our Serbia today and tomorrow, you are always welcome. Please feel at home, and Slovakia will also have a faithful, loyal and sincere friend in Serbia, just like we have one in you today in uneasy times in today's Europe," Vucic told Pellegrini.

Vucic said they had also discussed all important aspects of bilateral cooperation and agreed to continue cooperation in military technology and the energy sector.

Pellegrini said Slovakia and Serbia had very good, friendly relations that were not burdened by problems.

Thanking Vucic for the hospitality, Pellegrini said the relations were based on respect and trust.

He also thanked Vucic for the assistance provided to Serbia's Slovak minority.

Pellegrini also said Serbia was Slovakia's top economic partner in the region and noted that he wanted to see an increase of bilateral trade from the present annual volume of around 1.2 bln euros.

He said the military industry was one of the pillars of the cooperation with Serbia.