Tadić, Christofias: Excellent relations

21 May 2010 | 09:26 | Source: Tanjug

NICOSIA -- Serbian President Boris Tadić and Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias met in Nicosia on Thursday, on the first day of Tadić's two-day visit. Christofias, Tadić in Nicosia on Thursday (Tanjug) At a joint press conference after meeting Tadić, Christofias said that Cyprus supports Serbia and all Western Balkan countries on their path towards integration in the European Union. The integration of these countries in the EU would contribute to the stabilization of the situation and relations in the region, he said. Tadić said that the good bilateral relations are traditional, dating back from a very difficult time for Serbia. He expressed gratitude to Cyprus for its support to Serbia in the process of EU integration and to its defense of its territorial integrity in Kosovo. Cyprus is one of the five member states of the European Union which have not recognized the unilateral declaration. The two presidents, however, emphasized that much more must be done to foster economic cooperation, as bilateral trade totaled only EUR 15mn last year. Tadić was also scheduled to meet later with Archbishop of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus Chrysostomos II. On the second day of his visit to Cyprus, Tadić will, together with Christofias, open the Cypriot-Serbian Business Forum. Tadić will afterwards meet with Cypriot Parliament Speaker Marios Karoyan.