Serbia officially the most important partner of France in the Western Balkans

Flags of Serbia and France 

 French Ambassador to Serbia Frederic Mondoloni said on Friday in Belgrade that French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Serbia on July 15 and 16 was a sign of Paris's interest in Serbia as the "first partner in the region." that means the most important partner of the Balkans.

This visit, according to him, expresses the interest of the French state for the Western Balkans.

"This shows a new interest of France on the Western Balkans in general, and the desire for a bilateral relationship with Serbia - certainly our first partner in the region - to give a new impetus," he said.

The ambassador announced the opening of a French regional office in Belgrade to help strengthen the "European" ties and ensure the "transition towards sustainable development".

French President Emmanuel Macron had summoned a summit with the Western Balkan countries on July 1 in Paris but it was annulled. The meeting, under Macron's organization and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, was announced during a similar format meeting in Berlin in late April of this year.

Both European leaders had tried to persuade Kosovo and Serbia to continue the dialogue, but the parties had not withdrawn from their positions.

Serbia wants the removal of the tax on Serbian goods in order to continue the dialogue, while Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj insists on an agreement framework for dialogue which, according to him, should produce the recognition of Kosovo by Serbia.