Serbian President Boris Tadic will arrive on a three-day working visit to the Republic of Italy on November 12, during which he will lead a state delegation to the Serbia-Italy Summit, and have talks with his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano and Pope Benedict XVI.

On the first day, he will have talks with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Parliament Speaker Gianfranco Finni.

On the second day, he will be attending an interstate government summit and will meet with PM Silvio Berlusconi. A statement on strategic partnership and several bilateral agreements will be signed.

On the last day, he will meet with Pope Benedict XVI.

The Serbian delegation will also include PM Mirko Cvetkovic, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic, Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic, Minister of Defence Dragan Sutanovac, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Sasa Dragin, Minister of Energy and Mining Skundric, Minister of Infrastructure Milutin Mrkonjic, Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic and Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Oliver Dulic.

During the summit in Rome a joint declaration on strategic partnership between Serbia and Italy will be signed, as well as several important memoranda, agreements and protocols in the fields of infrastructure, energy, agriculture, military cooperation, internal affairs, culture, education and scientific and technical cooperation.

Vatican Ambassador to Serbia Orlando Antonini told Tanjug the forthcoming, second meeting of Serbian President Boris Tadic with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on November 14 will contribute to the further strengthening of relations between Serbia and the Holy See.

Apostolic Nuntio Antonini describes this meeting as very important, owing to possible benefits. The Holy See, which has not recognized Kosovo, will confirm its stand, he said, and also support to Serbia’s efforts to face the challenges of the present historical moment.

The talks will also contribute to the resolution of some open-ended issues, such as the legal position of the Roman Catholic Church in Serbia and the restitution of property confiscated during the Communist regime, he said.