FM meets with Japanese counterpart

Serbia is a crucial country for stability and prosperity of the Western Balkans, said foreign ministers of Japan and Serbia Katsuyo Okada and Vuk Jeremic. Speaking in Tokyo on Thursday, they pointed out the importance of improving of the bilateral, political and economic relations, and especially cooperation regarding the environmental issues between the two countries. FM meets with Japanese counterpart This visit is the first official visit of a Serbian foreign minister to Japan. Stressing that Jeremic had played an important role in the democratization of Serbia, Okada added that they had talked about the situation in Serbia, the Western Balkans and bilateral issues. “Serbia is a crucial country for stability, prosperity and ethnic reconciliation in the Western Balkans,” he said, and expressed his appreciation of the efforts Belgrade had made in the process of EU integration, cooperation with the international community and stabilization of the Balkans. Okada added that Japan would continue to economically assist Serbia, especially regarding the environment, and noted that Belgrade had made "huge progress" in the process of joining the WTO. The Serbian foreign minister thanked his host for the donations which he said helped build democracy in Serbia, and added that the country's, which has set joining the EU as its priority, is the key factor of stability and prosperity in the Balkans. He also stated that he and Okada had discussed a desulfurization project for Nikola Tesla Thermal Power Plant, the biggest such facility in the Balkans. “If we manage to carry out this project the emission level of carbon dioxide will be considerably reduced,” Jeremic said. He added that the project would be of global importance and stressed that a lot of countries were making a joint effort to reduce pollution and protect the environment. "I believe that it is a priority for both Serbia and Japan as well as for all nations in the world," said the minister. He invited his Japanese counterpart to visit Serbia and said he had hoped that this visit would additionally strengthen the relations between the two countries. Japan and the Kingdom of Serbia established diplomatic relations in 1882. Previously on Thursday, Jeremic met with President of Japan International Cooperation Agency Sadako Ogata, a former UN High Commissioner for Refugees .

FM meets with Japanese counterpart

This visit is the first official visit of a Serbian foreign minister to Japan.

Stressing that Jeremić had played an important role in the democratization of Serbia, Okada added that they had talked about the situation in Serbia, the Western Balkans and bilateral issues.

“Serbia is a crucial country for stability, prosperity and ethnic reconciliation in the Western Balkans,” he said, and expressed his appreciation of the efforts Belgrade had made in the process of EU integration, cooperation with the international community and stabilization of the Balkans.

Okada added that Japan would continue to economically assist Serbia, especially regarding the environment, and noted that Belgrade had made "huge progress" in the process of joining the WTO.

The Serbian foreign minister thanked his host for the donations which he said helped build democracy in Serbia, and added that the country's, which has set joining the EU as its priority, is the key factor of stability and prosperity in the Balkans.

He also stated that he and Okada had discussed a desulfurization project for Nikola Tesla Thermal Power Plant, the biggest such facility in the Balkans.

“If we manage to carry out this project the emission level of carbon dioxide will be considerably reduced,” Jeremić said.

He added that the project would be of global importance and stressed that a lot of countries were making a joint effort to reduce pollution and protect the environment.

"I believe that it is a priority for both Serbia and Japan as well as for all nations in the world," said the minister.

He invited his Japanese counterpart to visit Serbia and said he had hoped that this visit would additionally strengthen the relations between the two countries.

Japan and the Kingdom of Serbia established diplomatic relations in 1882.

Previously on Thursday, Jeremić met with President of Japan International Cooperation Agency Sadako Ogata, a former UN High Commissioner for Refugees .