FM: Serbia needs "wise foreign policy"

Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic says that a wise foreign policy is exceptionally important for small countries like Serbia. Jeremic stressed that Serbia’s chief political goal was contained within its commitments with its neighbors, Europe and the whole world. FM: Serbia needs "wise foreign policy" Speaking at the opening of a three-day international seminar titled “Excellence in Diplomacy—Young Leaders in Diplomacy“, he reiterated Serbia’s diplomatic priorities, one of which was EU membership. “Our central strategic priority remains EU membership, not just for reasons of territorial belonging, heritage and economic prosperity, but because we share key values (with Europe),“ said the minister. He cited Serbia’s approach to the Kosovo question since the unilateral independence declaration as a case in point , when it came to the importance of diplomatic engagement. “Serbia has chosen to respond to Pristina’s secession peacefully, with maximum restraint, harnessing all diplomatic resources as a response to Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration and to try and mitigate the destabilizing repercussions of that act,“ said Jeremic. Turning to Serbia’s history, the minister quoted, as he put it, “the first Serb diplomat, St. Sava,“ who said that Serbia’s destiny was to be the East of the West and the West of the East. In that sense, he said, Serbia “is the anchor of stability of the Western Balkans,“ and will therefore “invest great efforts to complete democratic transformation and full integration in the EU of this part of Europe.“ For this reason, it was important for Serbia to bolster relations with its historical ally Russia, continue cooperation with the U.S., maintain its strategic partnership with China, and enhance its relations with other nations of the world, including the Non-Aligned states, said Jeremic. The minister said that he hoped that Belgrade’s coordinated diplomatic approach would lead to a sustainable and lasting solution to the Kosovo problem, which would ensure peace and stability in the Western Balkans. Today’s seminar is being organized by the Koca Popovic diplomatic academy, the Foreign Ministry and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation. The Spanish embassy’s charge d’affaires said that he was “impressed by the conference, which is very interesting both in terms of program and the participants, as no conference thus far has brought together so many directors of diplomatic schools around the world.“ Vuk Jeremic (FoNet, archive)

FM: Serbia needs "wise foreign policy"

Speaking at the opening of a three-day international seminar titled “Excellence in Diplomacy—Young Leaders in Diplomacy“, he reiterated Serbia’s diplomatic priorities, one of which was EU membership.

“Our central strategic priority remains EU membership, not just for reasons of territorial belonging, heritage and economic prosperity, but because we share key values (with Europe),“ said the minister.

He cited Serbia’s approach to the Kosovo question since the unilateral independence declaration as a case in point , when it came to the importance of diplomatic engagement.

“Serbia has chosen to respond to Priština’s secession peacefully, with maximum restraint, harnessing all diplomatic resources as a response to Kosovo’s unilateral independence declaration and to try and mitigate the destabilizing repercussions of that act,“ said Jeremić.

Turning to Serbia’s history, the minister quoted, as he put it, “the first Serb diplomat, St. Sava,“ who said that Serbia’s destiny was to be the East of the West and the West of the East.

In that sense, he said, Serbia “is the anchor of stability of the Western Balkans,“ and will therefore “invest great efforts to complete democratic transformation and full integration in the EU of this part of Europe.“

For this reason, it was important for Serbia to bolster relations with its historical ally Russia, continue cooperation with the U.S., maintain its strategic partnership with China, and enhance its relations with other nations of the world, including the Non-Aligned states, said Jeremić.

The minister said that he hoped that Belgrade’s coordinated diplomatic approach would lead to a sustainable and lasting solution to the Kosovo problem, which would ensure peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

Today’s seminar is being organized by the Koča Popović diplomatic academy, the Foreign Ministry and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

The Spanish embassy’s charge d’affaires said that he was “impressed by the conference, which is very interesting both in terms of program and the participants, as no conference thus far has brought together so many directors of diplomatic schools around the world.“