Dacic, von Habsburg:Austria supports Serbia's EU integration

BELGRADE - Serbia's outgoing Prime Minister Ivica Dacic met in Belgrade on Monday with Austrian Archduke Karl von Habsburg and said better political dialogue and economic cooperation were in the interest of both countries.

Dacic stated he was pleased that Austria was supporting Serbia's EU integration, the government office for media relations said in a release.

"History teaches us that the the relations between our countries should never again be based on conflict, but cooperation, because that is in the interest of the people Serbia and Austria," Dacic noted.

"The EU is not Europe without Serbia," von Habsburg remarked, stressing that Austria's interest was to see Serbia as a member of the EU as soon as possible.

Von Habsburg, 53, who is a grandson of Austria's last emperor Charles I, will stay in Serbia until Wednesday and hold lectures on EU integration in Belgrade and Novi Sad.

Photo Tanjug, T. Valic