Serbian President Boris Tadic thanked Sunday Emir of Kuwait Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al-Sabah on the principled position of the Arab country, which has not recognized Kosovo's independence, thus giving a chance to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

“I am grateful to the State of Kuwait for maintaining a principled stand when it comes to the integrity of our country, by not recognizing the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo. This gives Serbia a significant advantage in the Organization of Islamic Countries,” Tadic told Tanjug after a series of meetings with Kuwaiti top officials.

At the beginning of his two-day official visit to Kuwait, Tadic also met with Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Speaker of the National Assembly Jassem Al-Kharafi.

According to the Serbian president, Kuwait supported the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, thereby giving the process a chance.

Tadic pointed out that Serbia and Kuwait were continuing with their important political cooperation at the multilateral level, with the facilitation of the United Nations.

Recalling the old ties between the former Yugoslavia and Kuwait and the links the family of the Emir, Kuwaiti head of state and the country's prime minister have with Serbia, Tadic said that his visit had been being prepared for two years, and had been preceded by the visits of the prime minister, a little over a year ago, and by the ministers of defense and foreign affairs.

“We have raised the level of our relations and now we have the opportunity to continue that process,” said Tadic.

When it comes to the economic cooperation, which will be discussed by the two countries' delegations of businessmen at a bilateral business forum on Monday, the Serbian president said that discussions have been opened on the topics of cooperation in agriculture, construction, defense and health industries and also on scientific cooperation.

Tadic added that he expected the businessmen would do their job and would make progress and improve the currently modest economic cooperation between the two countries.

Sutanovac: Agreement with Kuwait brings Serbia one step closer to closing contract on tank modernisation

Serbia has put in its offer to Kuwait regarding the modernisation and repair of M-84 tanks and the agreement on the two countries' cooperation in the domain of defence, which was signed on Sunday, brings Serbia one step closer to closing the contract for this job, Serbian Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac stated in Kuwait on Sunday.

In an interview for Tanjug, Sutanovac expressed hope that this matter is already settled.

According to him, the two countries share a lot of potential for cooperation in the field of defence, especially in the area of defence industry and military medicine.

Yugoslavia was a great producer and exporter of military equipment for years, and one of the most important contracts the country realised is the one signed with Kuwait in 1990 regarding the delivery of M-84 tanks.

According to generally accepted assessments, M-84 tank was the most ambitious project in the development of Yugoslavia's armament industry and it was constructed according to the licence for the Soviet T-72M tank.

The last samples of M-84 were delivered to Kuwait in 1992. Although certain media reported that the contract with Kuwait referred to the delivery of 200 tanks, it seems that Serbia exported a total of 150 M-84s, of which 149 would be repaired.

Trade agreement to increase exports to Kuwait

Minister of Economy and Regional Development Nebojsa Ciric today signed a trade agreement between Serbia and Kuwait providing the most favoured nation status and helping increase exports to that country.

Ciric, who is in Kuwait within the visit of the state delegation headed by Serbian President Boris Tadic, told the Tanjug news agency that the agreement specifies the concrete ways of future cooperation, particularly in the area of trade.

The agreement provides for the establishment of a Mixed Committee of Trade, which will analyse the modalities of deepening and increasing the cooperation.

He expressed the hope that, thanks to the agreement, Serbia will increase its trade deficit with Kuwait.

Excellent political relations between Serbia, Kuwait

Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said in Kuwait that the political relations between the two countries open up excellent opportunities for the promotion of cooperation in all areas.

Jeremic, who is member of the Serbian delegation on a visit to Kuwait led by President Boris Tadic, said that the two countries have an excellent diplomatic cooperation.

This is a good example of how open political relations could lead to the development of relations in all fields, including the economy, said the Minister and pointed out that Serbia and Kuwait will continue to cooperate closely in the future.

The organisation of a Non-Aligned Movement conference in Belgrade is ahead of us, in which Kuwait will participate, and we will continue the dialogue at the highest level with Kuwait, the Minister said.

Jeremic today signed agreements on air transport and on abolishing visas for holders of diplomatic and official passports with Kuwait.

The Memorandum of Understanding in the field of defence, on behalf of Serbia, was signed by Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac whereas the trade agreement was signed by the Minister of Economy and Regional Development Nebojsa Ciric.