Spanish Prime Minister arrives in Belgrade

Tanjug/ AP/ Darko Vojinovic

Spain is Serbia’s sincere friend and one of its greatest friends in the world, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said following his meeting in Belgrade with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Sanches said that Spain supports Serbia on the issue of Kosovo. “Spain has been and will always be by Serbia’s side in defending these principles,” the Spanish Prime Minister said.

Vucic told a joint press conference that the two countries have “a truly great friendship” and added that Serbia enjoys Spain’s unequivocal support on its European path.

“Dear friend, in this country everyone loves you, you will not find a single person who does not think the same,” said Vucic, adding that Spain is Serbia’s true friend.

Vucic said he and Sanches discussed Serbia’s European integration and that he thanked the Spanish government “for its continued and constant support,” with no additional conditions attached. “Spain always supports Serbia’s European path, we could feel that at every summit, every meeting,” he added.

The President also thanked Sanches for “support to the public international law” regarding the issue of Kosovo and said he briefed the Spanish Prime Minister on the developments in the Brussels dialogue with Pristina.

“We talked about establishing even closer economic relations, we will have a big (Spanish-Serbian) business forum in Belgrade in October, that will be an opportunity to negotiate many deals,” Vucic said.

The Spanish Prime Minister said Spain supports the process of Serbia’s accession to the European Union (EU) and that it will help it join the EU.

“Serbia, which has been a candidate country since 2002, continues on this path and do not doubt that Spain will always be by its side. You will have our support to become a full EU member,” Sanches said.

What connects Serbia and Spain is the need to honor international law and territorial integrity and sovereignty, he said, adding that Spain supports Serbia on the issue of Kosovo.

Explaining that political relations between the two countries are excellent, Sanches said their economic and trade relations should also rise to the same level.

Sanches was welcomed at the Belgrade airport by Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali.

The Spanish Prime Minister ends his visit to Belgrade tomorrow, following a meeting with Parliament speaker Ivica Dacic.

After Belgrade, Sanches will also visit Sarajevo, Mostar, Podgorica, Skopje and Tirana.

Spain is one of the five EU members that have not recognized the independence of Kosovo, the only economy of the Western Balkans that Sanches will not be visiting on this tour.

Spanish media recently reported that Sanches is touring the region in order to “reactivate, revive and revitalize“ the process of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans.