French Ambassador: Objective Is for Serbia To Join EU, Not for Citizens of Sandzak To Move out

Ambassador Falconi (Beta/Milan Obradovic)

French Ambassador to Serbia Jean-Louis Falconi said on Oct. 8 after visiting Novi Pazar that his country favored Serbia becoming a part of the EU so that citizens, including the people of Sandzak, "ill live in it, instead of moving out."

In an interview with the Novi Pazar Radio Sto Plus station, he said that during talks with city officials, religious leaders, journalists and NGO activists, his impression had been that everyone "is aware of the significance of a European outlook for Serbia and this region." "Everyone I talked to, talked with a lot of emotion, much more than in other parts of Serbia," he said.

"This region is a historical crossroads and it must be open to all, it always knew what it needed for development. People in Sandzak recognize the importance of the EU, are aware of the EU's model of accepting everyone, while respecting individual identities and the particularities of all member-states, the region and local communities," Falconi said.

He also said that "the enormous Sandzak Diaspora," which worked and lived in the EU, was playing a significant role in that. The ambassador stressed that he had not come with "a concrete plan for French corporate investment" on his first visit to this region, and that his goal was to assess the situation and try to find ways for France to help.