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Italian president voices support for Serbia's EU integration efforts

Xinhua, May 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Visiting Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday voiced support for Serbia's efforts towards European Union (EU) membership.

Serbia's membership in EU is of great interest for the stability of the Western Balkans, Mattarella said, at a press conference held after a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic here.

"Italy supports the attitude that the first chapters of the negotiations between Serbia and EU should be opened as soon as possible", he said.

Nikolic said Italy is among the biggest investors in Serbian industry and the two countries have a "strong and realistic" vision of progress and cooperation.

He thanked Italy for its support on European integration, and suggested that Italy and Serbia can implement joint projects and act together on foreign markets.

Serbia is the first EU candidate country that Mattarella visits, after he assumed office in February this year. After Serbia he is scheduled to visit Montenegro. Endit