High security measures ahead of Macron's visit to Belgrade

(Patria) - The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia announced today that it will take maximum security measures ahead of the upcoming visit of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron.

The statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs states that during the visit of the French President to Serbia, on July 15 and 16, there will be changes to traffic regulations in certain parts of Belgrade.

"Members of the Unit for the Security of Certain Persons and Facilities will implement special physical and technical security measures along the routes of movement of the protected person, and members of the Traffic Police Administration will undertake intensive measures to normalize traffic after the convoy of the protected person passes," the statement reads.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia calls on citizens to be understanding of the activities that police officers will undertake during the upcoming visit of the French President.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, today congratulated the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, on the occasion of France's national holiday - Bastille Day.

"Your visit will also be a confirmation that Serbia and France are on the right path to achieve higher levels of political and economic cooperation, as their lasting friendship and proclaimed strategic partnership deserve. Today, we share the values on which modern Europe is based, and I am convinced that in your vision of a reformed EU, our European path is realistic and achievable," Vučić stated.

French media note that the main topics of Macron's visit to Belgrade will also include the "sensitive issue" of whether Serbia can count on EU membership, problems in relations with Kosovo, and a significant strengthening of economic cooperation.

The Parisian weekly L'Express announces the French President's visit tomorrow with the assessment that Serbia-Kosovo relations will be in the spotlight and emphasizes that "tensions escalated when Kosovo imposed 100 percent tariffs on the import of Serbian products at the end of 2018".

French media also report on the Agence France-Presse report, which states that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, mediated by the EU, has been stalled for months, adding that the efforts of Berlin and Paris to achieve a breakthrough have failed and "no progress is in sight".

"The possibility of resolving the conflict through territorial exchange also remains unlikely" and, as made clear, "Paris is open to it, while Berlin opposes it, fearing that it would open a 'Pandora's box' of nationalism".

The media also cite the explanation from the Élysée Palace that "President Macron supports the European perspective of the Balkans, but at the same time points out that membership will only follow once the EU has been restructured, which the Serbs have understood very well".