Macron in Serbia for its ties with the EU, the sale of military aircraft and relations with Kosovo

2024-08-29 13:36:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Macron in Serbia for its ties with the EU, the sale of military aircraft and

Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to arrive in Belgrade on Thursday evening to strengthen ties with Serbia and bring it closer to the West, as the Balkan country walks a fine line between its bid for European Union membership and close ties with Russia. and China.

During his two-day visit, President Macron is expected to discuss with Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? a range of issues, including the purchase of French Rafale jets as well as energy and artificial intelligence issues.

In an op-ed published Thursday in Serbia's pro-government daily Politika, President Macron wrote that Belgrade can maintain its independent status "only under the auspices of the EU."

"With the outbreak of war on our continent, started by Russia, ... the idea that Serbia can seek its way in the eternal game of balancing between powers ... is simply an illusion," he wrote.

The European Union remains the largest investor in Serbia and hundreds of thousands of Serbs work in Western companies.

Late on Wednesday, Serbian President Vucic said there were still outstanding issues regarding Serbia's intention to buy the Rafale jets, a purchase of around 3 billion euros.

"It is not a question of the price, it is a question of certain guarantees... we are working on this issue for four days in a row", he said in an interview with Serbian state television.

In his editorial, President Macron also addressed the issue of the Serbian minority in Kosovo, reiterating his commitment to the agreement reached between the parties in February and March 2023 in Brussels and Ohrid for the normalization of relations, based on a drawn up plan from France and Germany.

He wrote that the Franco-German proposal preserves "the possibility for Serbs to live in Kosovo respecting the law, but not giving up their identity or natural ties with Serbia, but also the existence of guarantees regarding the preservation of the Serbian cultural and religious heritage." ".

The French President reiterated his commitment to the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo, which is also the most difficult part of the negotiations for the normalization of relations. /VOA