Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and his Slovene counterpart Borut Pahor said yesterday in Belgrade that the bilateral relations between the two countries are on the rise.

At a press conference held after the meeting, Cvetkovic expressed his gratitude to Slovenia for the support to Serbia towards the EU and Slovenia’s recent ratification of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the EU.

During today's meeting we discussed the possibilities of cooperation between Serbia and Slovenia and we concluded that the economic and political relations are on good grounds and that there is interest that they improve in the future, said the Prime Minister.

Cvetkovic pointed out that Slovenia is an active investor in Serbia and added that Serbian exports to Slovenia in the last period recorded a growth.

Slovenia invested in the factory Metal-Cinkara in Indjija, which will employ 50 workers, is which worth €20 million, he stated.

Slovenia is Serbia’s friend on the road of EU integration, Pahor said noting that Slovenia is trying to explain to its partners in the EU the importance of Serbia’s and Southeast Europe’s integration in the Union.

He noted that trade between the two countries increased 11% and that Slovenia invested €1.6 million in Serbia.

Pahor added that succession was also on the agenda of today’s meeting and specified that the embassy building of the former Yugoslavia in Rome will become possession of Slovenia as of autumn 2011.

Cvetkovic said that all state capacities are engaged in solving the issues of completing cooperation with the Hague tribunal, adding that the security services today conducted searches for fugitive Ratko Mladic.

Cvetkovic and Pahor officially opened the new premises of the Slovene embassy in Belgrade today.

Slovene Ambassador Franc But voiced his hope that the new premises will be a bridge of friendship between Slovenia and Serbia, adding that the embassy has been moved to a new location in Dositejeva Street.