Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivan Mrkic met today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus Mrs. Erato Kozakou Marcullis who is on the delegation headed by President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Cyprus Demitris Christofias at the First Summit of the Governments of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Cyprus.

Ministers Mrkic and Marcullis pointed out that the two traditionally friendly countries had excellent bilateral relations.

They emphasized that the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Government of the Republic of Serbia concerning the establishment of an enhanced partnership, to be signed today by Presidents of Government Ivica Dacic and Demitris Christofias, would open up scope for more intensified bilateral relations at all levels. The Memorandum is the first agreement of the kind to be signed by Cyprus at the international level.

Foreign Minister Marcullis emphasized in particular that Nicosia would continue with a consistent support to Belgrade regarding the Kosovo and Metohija issue, as well as the EU integration process and getting a date for the opening of EU membership negotiations.