Vucic: Serbia, North Macedonia to develop closest possible ties

VRANJE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday he was confident Serbia and North Macedonia would develop the closest possible ties and build them carefully and with mutual respect.

Vucic was speaking after a meeting with North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova at the St Prohor Pcinjski monastery near Vranje, southern Serbia.

"Our bilateral trade stood at 1.75 bln (euros), I am confident we can exceed 2 bln euros in the next two years and do much more together and support each other, not only through the Open Balkan initiative but everywhere and in all international forums, organisations and institutions," Vucic said at a press conference with Siljanovska Davkova.

He said he had congratulated her on a recent election win and that he would ask her to pay a first official visit to Belgrade by the end of the year.

He said discussions with a North Macedonian delegation had also addressed building a railway line section to Thessaloniki that he said would be "beneficial to both sides."

"We also discussed all other political affairs, from the European path and the problems we are facing, to the troubles and interests shared by our peoples and our countries," Vucic said.

Siljanovska Davkova visited the monastery to mark St Elijah's Day, North Macedonia's national holiday.