Serbia and Baden-Wurttemberg have great potential for strengthening of economic cooperation and strategic relations, Serbian President Boris Tadic stated Tuesday at the second session of the Serbia-Baden-Wurttemberg Joint Commission in Pforzheim, near Stuttgart.

“Our relations have oscillated throughout history, but I am certain that Serbia cannot develop without Germany. I am just as well convinced that Serbia can be a reliable partner to Baden-Wurttemberg and Germany in its part of Europe,” Tadic said at the second session of the Serbia-Baden-Wurttemberg Joint Commission, which was established nine years ago.

This intergovernmental body adopted Tuesday conclusions which are to intensify presence of Baden-Wurttemberg companies in the Serbian market.

“We will never give up on bringing Mercedes to Serbia. Several years ago, we were pretty close, but Mercedes chose Hungary. However, I know they cannot have as good conditions there as they would have in Serbia,” Tadic said.

Serbs and Germans are production-oriented nations, which is proved by about 360 German companies in Serbia, he said, adding that there are many unused potentials in the relations between the two countries.

President Tadic pointed to the potentials of promoting the relations between Serbia and the German federal state of Baden-Wurttemberg in the areas of culture and science, given the great number of Serbs who live and work in this state.

“About 700,000 citizens from Serbia live in Germany today and they all speak German as their mother tongue. This figure amounts to ten percent of Serbian citizens, who see German culture as part of themselves and thus make Serbia closer to Germany,” Tadic said.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, who co-chaired the session of the Serbia-Baden-Wurttemberg Joint Commission, said that the cooperation with Baden-Wurttemberg is important, but far below its potentials.

Djelic said that the trade between Serbia and Baden-Wurttemberg totals about EUR 250 million, which is ten percent less than Baden-Wurttemberg's trade with Slovenia.

The German companies' investments in Serbia total about EUR 2.6 billion, with only ten million euros coming from the state of Baden-Wurttemberg, he said.

Djelic stated five priorities of the future cooperation between Serbia and this German state, placing cooperation in the domain of automobile and electronic industry at the top position.

“We find production very important. Siemens is producing generators in Subotica, while Leoni has the most productive factory in Serbia with 55 thousand workers. We are focused on productivity and we want to be among the best in the world,” Djelic said.

Investments in the area of infrastructure would be of great help for Serbia, he said, adding that the Tuesday meeting focused on the possibilities of construction of a multimodal harbor near Belgrade.

According to him, the third priority comprises renewable energy sources and clean technology, the fourth one is security, while the fifth is cooperation in the fields of education and science.

After the Tuesday visit to Baden-Wurttemberg, Tadic will depart for Paris where he is to take part in the Leaders' Forum within the UNESCO's General Conference on Wednesday.

Tadic: Great German-Serbian friendship possible

Serbian President Boris Tadic stated late Tuesday that the Serbian and German people can develop great friendship in the future and correct all mistakes which burdened their relations in the past.

We are counting on Germany when it comes to Serbia's EU integration. We are aware it will not be easy and are not in search of any shortcuts, but when we finish our part of the work, we expect that Germans, as people who keep their word, to do their part of the work as well.

Tadic voiced belief that Germany and Serbia will together be part of the European Union in the future.

Serbia and Germany have a history of complex relations, but I believe everyone has their role in this common Europe of ours, Tadic said.

Serbian-German relations were sometimes difficult and complex, he evaluated, adding that the two countries cooperated even in such moments.

I believe that the idea of us visiting Baden-Wurttemberg and once again initiating the work of the Serbia-Baden-Wurttemberg Joint Commission will contribute greatly to closer relations between the two people and our two countries, Tadic pointed out.

The Serbian president expressed belief that talks with certain German companies on investments in Serbia will produce positive outcomes in the near future, and that Germany will remain Serbia's larger trade partner.

Co-founder of the Serbian-German Friendship Society and Chairman of the German Bundestag Committee for Europe Gunther Krichbaum said that Serbia's EU accession is an unstoppable process, adding that President Tadic deserves the most credits for that.

It is very important that Europe opens up to Serbia. The process of opening will continue, and I personally believe that your country will get the EU candidate status in December, Krichbaum said.

He, however, stressed that in the process of the Western Balkans' EU accession the regional reconciliation has to be continued, and added that many lessons can be learnt from the German-French reconciliation.

Krichbaum praised Tadic for his political bravery and readiness to precede others in the process of reconciliation, even at times when citizens of Serbia did not unanimously support his moves such as expressing regret over innocent victims in wars in the former Yugoslavia.

Great number of Serbs believes such steps were a bit too fast, but Germany sees them as your political courage, and for that Germans, who have a specific historical experience, should show more sensibility towards Serbia, he noted.

President Tadic finished his visit to the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg in Horchheim late Tuesday, and on Wednesday will be in Paris, where he will attend the Leaders' Forum within the 36th session of UNESCO's General Conference.