Macron: Serbia and Kosovo are European countries, national pride must not be opposed to compromise

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said, after a talk with French President Emmanuel Macron that lasted almost three times longer than planned, that he has hardly ever had such a long face-to-face conversation with anyone.

Vučić asked the French president for help in finding a solution to the Kosovo issue and Serbia's European integration. Macron states that Serbia is a great European nation and that France supports the renewal of dialogue with Kosovo.

"We had a very long conversation, I think I have never or hardly ever had such a long face-to-face conversation with anyone as with Macron, and it is possible that I have never had such an open and honest conversation," President Vučić said at a joint press conference in the "Serbia" Palace.

The French president reiterated his stance regarding the enlargement of the European Union, noting that the Union must reform in order to be able to admit Serbia and other members. As he says, the EU cannot function as it is now with 28 states.

"The EU does not function well today and I think that we first need to make some decisions in order to make decisions better and faster, you and we need to work in parallel, and I think that Europe needs to reform in parallel with the reforms carried out by Serbia in order to be ready to admit it," Macron emphasized. 

When it comes to the issue of Kosovo, Macron said that France will be fully ready to support the renewal of dialogue and the reaching of an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo.

"That there be no unilateral moves from either side. The events of the last few months worry us, and decisions contrary to agreements must be revoked," the French president added. 

According to Macron, some external forces want an agreement not to be reached.

"What I know is that Europe is something complex. Serbia and Kosovo are European states and that should translate into Europe, and not that national pride turns its back on compromise," the French president stated.