Vucic: Serbia-Georgia cooperation to be on upward trajectory

TBILISI - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is on an official visit to Georgia, said on Monday the relations between the two countries would be on an upward trajectory and that his meeting with Georgian counterpart Mikheil Kavelashvili had addressed numerous matters, from a FTA to EU integration.

"We discussed all geopolitical affairs, and challenges for both Georgia and Serbia. It seems that we have a very high degree of understanding on all the most important issues, and I think that cooperation will only be on an upward trajectory," Vucic told reporters.

Commenting on the EU paths of Serbia and Georgia, Vucic said candidate countries should hold discussions.

"As you know, Georgia, too, became an EU membership candidate two years ago, and believe that, in the coming period, I will invite the candidate countries to come to Belgrade to discuss how we should position ourselves towards Brussels and how we should help each other, and how to assess common matters and common interests," Vucic said.

Earlier, Vucic met with the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Shio III in Tbilisi and was received by Kavelashvili at the Presidential Palace.

He also laid a wreath at the Heroes Memorial.

"I was very happy when Patriarch Shio III said that he is concerned and that he understands well the position of Serbia and its concerns over the monasteries, holy sites and churches in Kosovo-Metohija. I believe we will always have the attention and love of the people of Georgia, just like they have ours, and we also expect the patriarch (to visit Serbia) soon," Vucic said.

He also said Serbia-Georgia ties were developing at an accelerated pace and announced that Serbia would open an embassy in Tbilisi soon.