Dacic meets with Bouyx

BELGRADE - At a meeting with the head of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Bertrand Bouyx on Monday, Serbian FM Ivica Dacic said he expected French representatives in the Council of Europe to have more understanding for Serbian arguments at an upcoming session on the so-called Kosovo's request to join the organisation.

Bouyx also heads the PACE Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy.

Dacic expressed disappointment over the recent adoption of a draft opinion of PACE Rapporteur Dora Bakoyannis, which omitted the establishment of a Community of Serb Municipalities and a resolution of the land expropriation issue in the north of Kosovo-Metohija as conditions for the so-called Kosovo's membership in the CoE.

Dacic noted that Kosovo-Metohija was a historically important part of Serbia as well as that Serbia and France had maintained a century-old friendship, including during WWI and WWII, and that they had always been on the right side of history, the Serbian MFA said in a statement.

Bouyx noted that France was a sincere friend of Serbia and supported talks and dialogue on the so-called Kosovo's request for CoE admission.

He added that France remained open to dialogue with the Serbian delegation to PACE and had understanding for Serbia's positions on the issue.