Nikolic, Kasoulides: Unbreakable Serbian-Cypriot ties

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic conferred on Monday with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus Ioannis Kasoulides, who expressed his support to Serbia's EU integration and pointed that any additional conditions placed before Serbia would aggravate the situation and jeopardize stability in the Balkans.

Both officials emphasized the unbreakable ties between the two countries and reiterated that neither Serbia nor Cyprus would ever concede a part of their territory, Serbian President's office released.

President Nikolic noted that Serbian-Cypriot bilateral ties are an example of friendship, understanding and mutual support.

"Our two countries are not connected by land or by sea, our ties are not territorial, but they are unbreakable,” Nikolic stressed.

He pointed out that Serbia has faced numerous challenges in a short period of time (over the past one and a half years), and successfully solved many of them.

Nikolic underlined that the issue of Kosovo-Metohija is still unresolved, as well as the economic crisis that has deeply affected the country.

"We will talk with Albanians, cooperate, build our friendship, but we will never recognize the independence of Kosovo-Metohija, just as you will never concede a part of your territory,“ said Nikolic.

Serbia greatly appreciates the support of Cyprus in the setting of the date for the beginning of EU entry negotiations and its principled stance not to recognize the unilaterally declared independence of KiM, he emphasized.

Kasoulides praised the honesty and vision of President Nikolic in tackling crucial challenges for the future of Serbia, and noted that the Cypriot EU path was as difficult as the Serbian.