Serbia PM lauds UAE - Serbian ties

Belgrade, August 5, 2013 (WAM) : The Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said the UAE led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has become in record time one of the developed countries in the world. He told Emirates News Agency (WAM) in an exclusive interview that his government "is looking forward to expanding the joint cooperation with the UAE", referring to the recent visit paid to Serbia by His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The Serbian PM noted the visits reflects the interest of leadership in both countries to expand the scope of bilateral cooperation in the best interest of the two countries and peoples. "The Serbian government is interested to further develop the relations to serve the interests of the two countries", he said. He said the talks are underway to strengthen the bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of defence and military industries as well as the economic, trade, investment, agriculture and banking fields. Dacic noted the provision of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development of concessional loan of US$ 400 million to Serbia, has contributed to supporting the agricultural sector and creating more job opportunities for the Serbian people, pointing out that Emirates al-Dhahira Company in the agricultural sector and real estate in Serbia invests about US$400 million there. The Serbian PM stressed importance of the agreements signed recently in Abu Dhabi by both H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Aleksandar Vucic, notably, the cooperation agreement between the two countries, the agreement on encouragement and protection of investment ,and the joint statement on the establishment of strategic partnership between the two governments. – Emirates News Agency, WAM