Djuric speaks by phone with Schallenberg

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric spoke by phone with Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg on Tuesday to inform him of the current state of affairs in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the worrying position of Kosovo-Metohija Serbs, who he noted faced pressure and coercion by Pristina and unbearable living conditions created through Pristina's unilateral acts.

Djuric said Serbia attached great significance to further development of comprehensive ties with Austria, one of its strongest partners in the EU, and underscored Serbia's readiness to deepen political dialogue at all levels and continue to advance bilateral cooperation, the Serbian MFA said in a statement.

He noted that Austria's support was very important for Serbia as an EU membership candidate country.

Djuric highlighted the Friends of Western Balkans Group, which has been established at Austria's initiative and brings together EU member states advocating expediting the region's EU accession process.

Djuric thanked Schallenberg for inviting him to a meeting of Western Balkan FMs and the group's FMs in Austria later this month, and said he expected the meeting to be an opportunity to jointly review prospects for expanding cooperation in all areas of interest to countries in the region and their citizens.