“Strategic partnership agreement between Serbia and France is ready”

Belgrade, Feb. 26, 2010 (Serbia Today) - French Ambassador to Serbia Jean-Francois Terral has said that the text of a strategic partnership agreement between Serbia and France is ready, and that the negotiations should be completed by initialing the agreement during a future visit by France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner
French Ambassador to Serbia Jean-Francois Terral has said that the text of a strategic partnership agreement between Serbia and France is ready, and that the negotiations should be completed by initialing the agreement during a future visit by France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. Terral told Vecernje novosti, a Serbian daily, that the agreement was announced in May 2009, during Serbian President Boris Tadic's visit to Paris, adding that French President Nicolas Sarkozy is going visit Serbia in 2010. According to Terral, the agreement tries to give a formal shape to the political obligation to cooperate in Serbia's European integration when it comes to economy, energy, defense, security, environment protection, science, culture and university issues. Terral pointed out that France feels that Serbia belongs in the EU, which was stated very clearly by Sarkozy during his meeting with Tadic in Paris. France will back Serbia's EU bid, Terral noted, adding that the bid being sent to the European Commission is a technical matter with the aim of getting an opinion. It could be sent immediately, according to Terral, who remarked that France hopes a consensus will be reached soon.