Christoph Leitl

The ceremony in the Presidency was attended by ministers Ivica Dacic, Nebojsa Stefanovic, Zlatibor Loncar, Aleksandar Vulin, Vladan Vukosavljevivic, chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina Milorad Dodik, and Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, who is among the recipients.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic is today taking part in the ceremonies in Orasac, central Serbia.

VIENNA - Christoph Leitl, President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, awarded the Great Gold Medal of Honour, the highest honour of the Austrian economy, to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Vienna on Thursday.

Leitl said Vucic had done much for his country and the region, as well as for the partnership with Austria and Europe.

In an interview ahead of his official visit to Austria, Vucic pointed out that after economic reforms during two consecutive years, the state budget has a surplus, while the unemployment rate has been reduced "from 26 to 12 percent."

He added that he "hoped it would fall to 10.5 percent this year."

"Countries with a developed dual education system do not have a problem with youth unemployment, and Serbia has recognized this," says Christoph Leitl.

The president of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber is on a two-day visit to Belgrade as of Monday.