Vucic meets with Napolitano

ROME - Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic met with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in Rome Wednesday and spoke to him about the reforms Serbia had started and about the situation concerning the EU accession process.

Vucic said that Serbia had managed to preserve internal stability, despite the difficult reforms it was implementing, stressign that it had become a pillar of stability in the Western Balkans.

"In 2013, Italy became Serbia's biggest trade partner, and I expect that we will see trade cooperation increase in 2014. Serbia sees Italy as its sincere friend," Vucic said, thanking Italy for its support and understanding shown for Serbia in the European integration process.

Napolitano welcomed the reforms implemented by the Serbian government and told Prime Minister Vucic that it was important to endure, despite the reforms' difficulty, and to send a clear message to the people of Serbia that the reforms, no matter how difficult they may be, would bring them a better life in the near future.

Napolitano stressed that Italy had been fully supporting Serbia in the Euro-Atlantic integration process, adding that it would continue to push for Serbia to be admitted to the EU as soon as possible, the Serbian government's media relations office said in a release.

Vucic will also meet with Prime Minister Mateo Renzi.

Photo Tanjug/Serbian Government's Press Office