Arif Mahmood

BELGRADE - Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic Wednesday held separate meetings with the outgoing ambassadors of Iran and Pakistan, Majid Fahim Pour and Arif Mahmood.

Nikolic and Pour said Serbia-Iran trade had been on an increase, expressing the expectation it would soon match the levels from the era of the former Yugoslavia, the presidential press office said in a statement.

Serbia has "the East in its heart," President Tomislav Nikolic said on Monday, adding that the country at the same time "wants to live like the West."

That is why it "cannot choose," Nikolic stated during his meeting with Pakistan's ambassador in Belgrade, Arif Mahmood, describing Serbia as being "on the crossroads of the East and the West."

BELGRADE - Newly-appointed Pakistani Ambassador to Serbia Arif Mahmood stated on Monday upon presenting credentials to Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic that Islamabad is committed to further strengthening of relations with Serbia in all areas of mutual interest, economy and trade in particular.