The President of the Republic of Serbia, Boris Tadić, invited Slovak President Ivan Gašparovič for a private dinner during his visit to Novi Sad, Serbia. Serbia’s highest official thus expressed his fondness for Slovakia and its support for Serbia’s EU integration endeavours.

The special meeting of both Heads of State following the end of the 16th Summit of the Central European Presidents held in the Serb city of Novi Sad confirmed friendly relations between the two countries. “Ivan Gašparovič and I are old friends. And this, of course, will contribute to even better relations between Slovakia and Serbia,” Boris Tadić emphasised before the dinner.

He said Slovakia was also important for Serbia due to its membership in NATO and particularly in the EU, which Tadić’s country hopes to join as well.

“There is a lot of understanding between us. Slovakia supports Serbia,” President Tadić said. He praised Slovakia for its economic progress, which was also made possible by reforms. According to Tadić, Serbia’s integration with the EU will bring stability to both South-East and Central Europe.

“I am very pleased that Slovakia is such a guarantor,” Ivan Gašparovič reacted. He noted that Serbia had emerged from numerous turbulent times as a democratic country that meets the conditions of admission to the EU. “Along with Croatia and other states of the Western Balkans, Serbia is a country that belongs in Europe,” Gašparovič said.

During his working visit to Serbia, Gašparovič also greeted members of the Slovak community living in Báčšky Petrovec (Bački Petrovac), in Vojvodina, and visited the local branch of Matica slovenská (Slovak Heritage Organisation).