Vucic: Long and honest talks; Macron: Opposition asks for meeting too late

Vucic said Serbia’s and France’s joint statement was essential and that it expressed the support of Belgrade's road to the European Union.

“I listened to President Macron’s words of all important issues; I learned a lot from him. I told him about our problems, primarily regarding Kosovo… I was telling the truth, and I pledged with him that France helps Serbia on its EU path and in solving the Kosovo problem,” Vucic told a joint news conference after the meeting.

 He added it was crucial for Serbia “to put more effort in the rule of law and some other areas.”

Answering the question from a French journalist related to the issues with the rule of law and the opposition boycott of the parliament, Vucic said that the problem with the judiciary existed since 2009, blaming the previous authorities for the reform and added the problems would be solved in cooperation with the European parliaments.

"When someone in the EU come to power with 3.7 percent of the votes, we’ll gladly apply that recipe,” Vucic said alluding to the opposition score in the last elections.

Macron told reporters he would organise a special Belgrade – Pristina meeting with the participation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Serbia’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, adding his country would support the resumption of the dialogue and that he would be engaged out of respect for Serbia.

“We were frank regarding Kosovo,” Macron said, adding that something could be achieved in the next several months.

He added that the EU responsibility was to support searching for a compromise and establish stability. “There are some outside forces which don’t want a solution,” Macron added but did not say which forces he had in mind.

“Serbia and Kosovo are the European countries, and we have to help that to become a fact,” he said, adding that “decisions contrary to the undertaken obligations should be revoked.”

Answering reporters’ question, he said the history could not be reversed, nor could it go 20 years back.

Macron said “Serbia is a great European state, nation, and I say that loud here, at the moment when some in the world have the impression that this region could be a place of different influences. You respect your sovereignty and independence, and I also honour the sovereignty of the countries I respect.”

He added that “Serbia is a part of the EU accession process, you have always been responsible saying you will join when you are ready… I always had a clear position – the EU doesn’t function properly, and those decisions should be made to make it function better. Both you and we have to work, to act.”

Referring to the latest European Commission report on Serbia’s progress toward the EU, Macron only said he wanted the situation with media to improve.

Macron said he couldn’t meet Serbia’s opposition leaders since their request “came too late, that it should have been sent earlier, they knew when I was coming.”

“All political forces, including the opposition, have a permanent dialogue with our embassy,” Macron said, adding there would be talks with his associates but that he couldn’t squeeze the meeting with the opposition in his tight schedule.