FM: Serbia dedicated to cooperation with NAM

FM: Serbia dedicated to cooperation with NAM

The current accession negotiations and Serbia's ambitions towards EU integration will not diminish the support for the values of the Non-Aligned Movement when it comes to more balanced development, solidarity, and equality among countries when tackling key challenges, he stated.

The foreign minister also stressed that Serbia would remain dedicated to its cooperation with NAM members.

In the context of international relations and while following the UN Charter, Serbia will support the efforts to revitalise the role of the NAM as an advocate of developing countries and an instrument for them to achieve their interests on the international stage, Dačić stated.

Serbia's regular attendance of NAM meetings is a clear confirmation of the significance it places on the NAM's work, he noted.

It is necessary to implement the Millenium Development Goals, define sustainable deevlopment goals and prepare for the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which is one of the most complex processes focused on by the UN, that strives to reduce the gap between the north and south, Dačić underscored.

Serbia will work intensively on that as part of the UN Economic and Social Council, which it is a member of starting from this year, he pointed out.

The frequency of natural disasters is increasing as a consequence of climate changes and Serbia has not avoided that, being hit by heavy floods, loss of life and immeasurable property damage, he stated, calling for a creation of efficent international mechanisms to combat the phenomenon.

Serbia is truly committed to the basic principles of multilateralism based on the UN Charter and the international law, Dačić said.

Serbia is giving a concrete contribution to preservation and strengthening of international security and solution of crisis situations in Serbia through active participation in the UN and EU peace-keeping missions in Ivory Coast, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Cyprus, Haiti, Somalia and the Middle East, Dačić said.

He thanked numerous members of the Movement on their commitment to the principles of the rule of law in the international framework by not recognizing Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence, a document which constitutes a violation of the principles of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Nevertheless, Serbia is ready to continue the dialogue with Priština and solving the Kosovo issue by peaceful means, Dačić said, stressing that this can in no way prejudice the Serbia's recognition of Kosovo's illegally declared independence.

Dačić said that the Serbian government has been successfully implementing the project dubbed World in Serbia, which is providing scholarships for citizens of the member states and observers of the NAM countries, adding that there are 241 scholarship holders in Belgrade from over 40 NAM countries.

"I am certain that the deep-seated values, which NAM has cherished since its establishment and that have left an indelible mark on the history of the world, are still contributing to improvement of the international order and creation of a society of greater justice and solidarity. In these efforts, you can count on Serbia's unqualified support and partnership," Dačić said.