BELGRADE: SOLANA, PATTEN SUPPORT CONTINUATION OF REFORMS

BELGRADE, March 13 (Hina) - At the beginning of their extra- ordinary visit to Belgrade on Thursday, the European Union's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Defence Policy, Javier Solana, and the EU's Foreign Affairs Commissioner, Chris Patten, held talks with the President and Foreign Minister of Serbia and Montenegro, Svetozar Marovic and Goran Svilanovic. #L# After the talks with the senior EU officials, Svilanovic told Radio-Television Serbia their visit was a sign of support to the authorities of Serbia and Montenegro to continue with the reforms initiated by the Serbian government headed by Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, who was assassinated yesterday. He added that concrete political and financial assistance to the country had been agreed on at the talks. The EU will support Serbia and Montenegro on their path towards Europe, which was Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's dream, the EU officials said after meeting Serbian government members. Addressing reporters in the presence of all government ministers, Solana said that after yesterday's shock at the news about Djindjic's murder he had felt the need to personally come to Belgrade and express his deep solidarity with and support to Djindjic's friends, the Serbian people and government and other institutions. The EU will stay with Serbia and help make the dream of EU membership, which was shared by most Serbian citizens and Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, become a reality, and this feeling is shared by all European citizens, Solana said. Stating that the EU would stand by Serbia and Montenegro on their way to Europe, Patten said that there was no way back, the path towards the European family was clear and even though there would be attempts to prevent that process, the EU would help Serbia and Montenegro overcome all obstacles on that road. Serbia's acting president Natasa Micic thanked for the solidarity, support and condolences offered by the EU officials, adding that their visiting the country "in this difficult situation is a sign of support to democratic forces in Serbia and its government on the road to Europe". (hina) rml sb