Ashton Congratulates Serbia's New Leaders

Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, met Serbia's new Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Aleksandar Vucic and Ivica Dacic, in Belgrade on Monday.

“I am absolutely delighted that I was able to make a special visit to Serbia today, to have the opportunity to congratulate you in person and to talk about the work that lies ahead,” she said.

Ashton welcomed the new government’s commitment to EU integration, reforms, the fight against corruption and drive to establish the rule of law.

“It is wonderful to see Serbia on its journey to joining the European Union," she said, “and the strength of commitment of every one that I have met – not just in government but outside – to that journey is what is going to guarantee success, I hope, in good time.”

She noted the scale of the economic challenges ahead to ensure that difficult reforms deliver benefits to people.

“I hope that one of the benefits of your relationship with the European Union is to send as strong as possible a message to investors, to markets, to institutions, that coming to Serbia, investing here is a good thing, is good for business, is good for the people,” Ashton said.

Vucic whose Progressive Party won a convincing victory in the March 16 general elections - said he had informed Ashton that by July Serbia aims to reach an agreement with the IMF and the World Bank to obtain US $250 million in support.

The  meeting with Ashton on Monday was Vucic's first with a high-ranking foreign official since his cabinet was endorsed by parliament on Sunday.

The new government has 19 members. Dacic, the Socialist Party leader, is the new first Deputy Prime minister as well as Foreign Minister.

Zorana Mihajlovic, from the Progressive...

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