- Title: Croatia and Sebia to discuss cooperation at WEF.
- Date: 20th January 2017
- Summary: DAVOS, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE ENTERING ROOM AT WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM (WEF) TO WATCH PANEL DISCUSSION IMF CHIEF CHRISTINE LAGARDE SEEN THROUGH DOOR TAKING HER SEAT FOR PANEL DISCUSSION SCREEN SHOWING WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER ANDREJ PLENKOVIC WALKING PAST AT WEF FORUM (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER, ANDREJ PLENKOVIC SAYING: "No, I think that our timetables were thoroughly defined. I've been here not even 20 hours… After all, you yourselves know that the agenda is defined to the minute but I'll be pleased to meet at this panel, although for a real discussion we must go through preparations and agree adequate topics. But I'm open for a meeting." Reported asking: "When could that happen? CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER, ANDREJ PLENKOVIC SAYING: "We'll agree through diplomatic channels." PLENKOVIC GOING UP STAIRS VARIOUS OF SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER ALEKSANDAR VUCIC WALKING PAST (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER ALEKSANDAR VUCIC SAYING: "It wasn't planned, Mr. Plenkovic was right. We will together take part in one forum, that is, informal gathering of world economic leaders. One of those sessions. I already took part in several here… We'll talk there, but from my part, I'm always open for talks. I think so. Mr. Plenkovic He has an open-ended invitation from my side to visit Belgrade whenever he wants. I was in Zagreb for the inauguration of the president. I think Andrej, I think Mr. Plenkovic, hasn't been to Belgrade, so he's welcome to come to Belgrade or any other place on Serbian soil. Just like (Croatian) President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic. Of course, we have many issues we need to resolve. Unlike Croatian politicians, I don't want to speak in advance about everything Serbia could burden its neighbours with, I want us to discuss it openly and see what we can resolve and what we can't." SIGN AT CONGRESS HALL WHICH READS (IN ENGLISH) "MEETING 2017) (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) SERBIAN PRIME MINISTER ALEKSANDAR VUCIC SAYING: "It is up to me to protect Serbia's interests, but without jeopardizing at any time interests of Croatia, because I think that peace and stability in the region are our greatest joint interest. Croatia is an important country for us and it's good that Mr. Plenkovic said that Serbia is important to Croatia. So, if we register that, I'm sure we can find good paths to cooperation." MEN LOOKING AT THEIR MOBILE PHONES VARIOUS OF DELEGATES TALKING INSIDE WEF CONGRESS HALL
- Embargoed: 3rd February 2017 14:25
- Keywords: Davos World Economic Forum Switzerland Croatia Serbia Andrej Plenkovic Aleksandar Vucic
- Location: DAVOS, SWITZERLAND
- City: DAVOS, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ZVYR09
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Serbia's and Croatia's prime ministers were set to meet to discuss cooperation on Friday (January 20) during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
With regional tensions in the Balkans making headlines, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said the meeting would be used to establish a date for formal negotiations at a future date.
"No, I think that our timetables were thoroughly defined. I've been here not even 20 hours… After all, you yourselves know that the agenda is defined to the minute but I'll be pleased to meet at this panel, although for a real discussion we must go through preparations and agree adequate topics. But I'm open for a meeting."
Reported asking: "When could that happen?"
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday that peace and stability were the main goals for his government and that Plenkovic would be invited to Belgrade to hold discussions.
"I'm always open for talks. I think so. Mr. Plenkovic He has an open-ended invitation from my side to visit Belgrade whenever he wants. I was in Zagreb for the inauguration of the president. I think Andrej, I think Mr. Plenkovic, hasn't been to Belgrade, so he's welcome to come to Belgrade or any other place on Serbian soil. Just like (Croatian) President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic," said Vucic adding, "It is up to me to protect Serbia's interests, but without jeopardizing at any time interests of Croatia, because I think that peace and stability in the region are our greatest joint interest. Croatia is an important country for us and it's good that Mr. Plenkovic said that Serbia is important to Croatia. So, if we register that, I'm sure we can find good paths to cooperation." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None