Press Release, 16 April 2013
The Speaker of the Seimas, Vydas Gedvilas, had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ivica Dačić, and the Serbian delegation who are visiting Lithuania. Bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Serbia and Serbia’s aspiration to accede to the EU were discussed during the meeting.
Speaker of the Seimas, Vydas Gedvilas, and Prime Minister of Serbia, Ivica Dačić. Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas
The Speaker of the Seimas expressed his appreciation of the visit of the Serbian Prime Minister to Lithuania and his support to Serbia’s EU-integration. “We support Serbia’s EU-integration efforts and welcome the permanent commitments of its Government to the EU agenda, its particular efforts in leading the dialogue between Belgrad and Pristina,” Mr Gedvilas said. “We also support Serbia’s efforts in implementing the reforms intended for the improvement of the economic and business environment. However, the principle of the rule of law is of critical importance to a reliable business environment”.
Having expressed his hope for closer bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Serbia, the Serbian Prime Minister inquired about the ratification of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between EU Member States and Serbia. The guest was informed that the Draft Law has been registered at the Seimas to this end while its deliberation is expected in the Spring Session of the Seimas.
The issue concerning Lithuanian business investments in Serbia was raised during the meeting. Several Lithuanian companies have appealed to the International Court of Arbitration concerning privatisation of their assets in Serbia. The Serbian Prime Minister ensured that Serbia would respect international arbitration decisions.
Asta Markevičienė, Public Relations Unit, tel. +370 239 6202, e-mail: [email protected]
