Sharing his pleasure at being able to play host to such distinguished guests, National Assembly Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic stressed that this was a good opportunity to highlight the two countries’ and especially the two nations’ traditional friendship, deeming that Greece has always been a true friend to Serbia. Speaking of Serbia’s priorities, Stefanovic said that these were, first and foremost, the European Union and regional cooperation which Serbia considers extremely important. Speaking of the talk he had with the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Evangelos Meimarakis, Stefanovic said he was pleased by the agreement to deepen parliamentary cooperation before long. As regards European integration, the National Assembly Speaker emphasised the importance of the twinning project in which Serbia has partnered up with Greece to ensure harmonisation with the European Union, expressing gratitude for the assistance as the Serbian Parliament, said the Speaker, plays an important role in the harmonisation of legislation with European Union norms. Stefanovic was also grateful for the principled position Greece took by deciding not to recognise the independence of Kosovo, declaring it one of the most important strategic issues for Serbia and adding that the country would continue to keep Greece informed about the future plans and specific steps it intends to take to that end, in the spirit of the two countries’ close relations. Clarifying the importance the decision of the European Union about the start date for the talks has for Serbia, Speaker Stefanovic said that a positive decision would also be important for the potential investors into Serbia, thanking Greece for its significant investments into Serbia so far. Stefanovic also said that he expected the judiciary reform and the fight against corruption and organised crime to be accepted as an argument for and proof of Serbia’s readiness to commence talks with the European Union. Speaker Stefanovic deemed the bilateral relations between Serbia and Greece successful, relations which have in the last year been raised to a higher level thanks to the substantial number of reciprocal high-level visits, which has given new momentum to cooperation at all levels, and which has shown that the two countries’ friendship has concrete indicators of success. In conclusion, Speaker Stefanovic said that he expected that cultural cooperation would to come be raised onto a higher level in the days, and that the parliamentary friendship groups in the two parliaments would help draw the two countries closer in all spheres. Greek President Karolos Papoulias thanked the Speaker for the reception saying that the members of the high-level delegation he is heading have been representatives of the Greek people for years and are well aware of what fighting for the interests and benefit of the people means. Papoulias greeted the members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Greece saying that they can greatly contribute to the promotion of the already excellent relations between the two countries. He said that he was very pleased to hear that the two parliaments’ cooperation would be deepened, saying that the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Evangelos Meimarakis, is a great friend to Serbia. Papoulias added that the parliament can often do more than the government and its ministers and that the parliament’s decisions are always met with better public acceptance. Papoulias opined that the relations between Greece and Serbia are excellent, and that the presence of Greek investors is impressive considering that the sum of two and a half billion euros, which is the amount of the investment so far, is impressive for a country such as Greece. Presenting the Greek delegation, Papoulias said that it comprised the Minister of Culture and the Minister for European Affairs who supports Serbia’s European Union accession. Saying that Serbia has shown a lot of courage in the talks on Kosovo-Metohija, Papoulias added that he believed that the European partners and Pristina authorities would be able to appreciate it. As regards bilateral relations, especially cultural ones, the Greek President said that they show considerable perspectives for further development. Rest assured that Greece will offer all-round assistance in understanding and applying European standards. In other words, we will always be with you, concluded Greek President Karolos Papoulias, in the end thanking the Serbian tourists for their loyal visits to Greece, saying that this continues the lasting twinning process between the two nations. Speaker Stefanovic expressed his thanks for the support, saying that we feel that Greece is with us and adding that we need Greek help to reach the European Union standards as well as to address the regional issues.