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Cyprus and Serbia singed two bilateral agreements and one memorandum of understanding, which provide the grounds for the further deepening and consolidation of their cooperation both bilaterally and internationally.
The three documents, an agreement on Tourism and an agreement on cooperation in combating terrorism, organised crime and illegal trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors as well as illegal immigration, and a Memorandum of understanding on Sport Cooperation, were singed in the presence of the Presidents of the two countries, Demetris Christofias and Boris Tadich, after official talks between the two delegation.
President Christofias is paying a three-day official visit to Serbia.
Tadich and Christofias also attended a working lunch hosted by Serbia's Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic.
In statements after a meeting, Cvetkovic said that his country supports the efforts of the Cyprus government for a Cyprus solution ''according to the relevant UN resolutions and with no imposed timeframes.''
He underlined the importance of Christofias' visit to Serbia, the first visit by a Cypriot head of state to Serbia after 18 years.
He expressed Serbia's gratitude over Cyprus' support to the implementation of the Trade Agreement and the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) signed between Serbia and the EU.
Expressing his country’s gratitude to Cyprus' support over the issue of Kosovo and Serbia's EU bid, Cvetkovic said that after Serbia's implementation of the EU SAA agreement and the trade agreement, import taxes in the country have lowered thus ''opening a window of opportunity for the export of Cypriot fruits to Serbia.''
Replying to a question, the Serbian PM said that he has accepted an invitation to visit Cyprus.
In his remarks, Christofias said that Cyprus supports Serbia's EU bid and added that Cyprus and Serbia ''are in line'' towards renewing the double taxation agreement.
Replying to a question regarding Greece's position on the issue of Kosovo, Christofias said that he can only comment on Cyprus' position on the issue.
During today's contact in the ''white city'', as the name Beograd (Belgrade in Serbian) means, President Christofias also met Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic.
Speaking to the press after a meeting, Christofias pointed out the need to promote the relations not only of the executives of the two countries but also the relations between the two parliaments.
He also said that he was informed by the Speaker that the Serbian Parliament formed a parliamentary friendship group with Cyprus and that this group will exchange visits.
Reiterating Cyprus' support to Serbia's EU bid, the Cypriot President said that both the Parliament's European Affairs Committee and the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs are ready to provide their experience to Serbia regarding its negotiations with the EU.
Slavica expressed her country's gratitude for Cyprus' support both on Kosovo issue and on Serbia's EU bid.
''We noted that the level of friendship (between the two countries) demands a higher level of communication on various governmental levels and that the parliaments of the two countries should initialise the first steps of communications with the friendship group meetings and meetings of the parliamentary committees on Foreign and European Affairs,'' she said, adding that she conveyed to her Cypriot counterpart an invitation to visit Belgrade.
Before meeting with Djukic, President Christofias and President Tadich inaugurated the new building of Cyprus' Embassy in Belgrade, highlighting the excellent relations between the two countries.
''Today, nearly after five decades of diplomatic relations with Serbia, the two Presidents inaugurated the embassy's new premises,'' Cyprus’ Ambassador to Serbia Omiros Mavrommatis said during the inauguration ceremony.
Speaking during the ceremony, President Christofias said he is ''happy and touched'' for two reasons, namely because he as President of Cyprus visits Serbia after 18 years and that he inaugurates with his Serbian counterpart the new building of the Cypriot Embassy offered by the Serbian government.
''This is a sign of friendship and everlasting cooperation,'' the President said, adding that there are no divergences with Serbia. ''There are only agreements and friendship,'' he said.
Tadich praised the high level of relations between the two countries noting that ''there are no differences regarding some sensitive issues.''
