Serbian ambassador leaving Washington

Serbian Ambassador to Washington Ivan Vujacic is leaving his position after six years. He told American journalists at the Woodrow Wilson Center about the difficulties Serbia was facing and the country’s priorities for this year. Serbian ambassador leaving Washington Vujacic said that one of the most negative events of last year for Serbia had been the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence, but that Serbia had responded using exclusively diplomatic means. He also pointed out that the United Nations General Assembly had adopted Serbia’s resolution asking the opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding the legality of Kosovo’s independence declaration. The economy was one of the biggest problems facing Serbia, Vujacic said, adding that its industry had been hit hard by the international economic crisis. Vujacic said that relations between the U.S. and Serbia had improved significantly over the last six years. “We were able to unfreeze our assets, public and state-owned, to normalize trade relations, restore the preferential system, and the executive regulation which enables the export of American weapons to Serbia, which means that Serbia was taken off the list of renegade countries.” the ambassador explained. He said that he expected positive developments in relations between Serbia and the new U.S. administration, thanks in part to the fact that Serbian caucus founder Rahm Emanuel was the new chief of Barack Obama’s White House staff. Vujacic said that American investment in Serbia was not at a satisfactory level, and that one of the biggest disappointments was the decline in production at the U.S. Steel factory in Smederevo.

Serbian ambassador leaving Washington

Vujačić said that one of the most negative events of last year for Serbia had been the unilateral declaration of Kosovo independence, but that Serbia had responded using exclusively diplomatic means.

He also pointed out that the United Nations General Assembly had adopted Serbia’s resolution asking the opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding the legality of Kosovo’s independence declaration.

The economy was one of the biggest problems facing Serbia, Vujačić said, adding that its industry had been hit hard by the international economic crisis. Vujačić said that relations between the U.S. and Serbia had improved significantly over the last six years.

“We were able to unfreeze our assets, public and state-owned, to normalize trade relations, restore the preferential system, and the executive regulation which enables the export of American weapons to Serbia, which means that Serbia was taken off the list of renegade countries.” the ambassador explained.

He said that he expected positive developments in relations between Serbia and the new U.S. administration, thanks in part to the fact that Serbian caucus founder Rahm Emanuel was the new chief of Barack Obama’s White House staff.

Vujačić said that American investment in Serbia was not at a satisfactory level, and that one of the biggest disappointments was the decline in production at the U.S. Steel factory in Smederevo.