First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic met today in Sochi with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov.

“It is my great pleasure to meet with my counterpart and friend Sergey Lavrov. We are pleased to be able to reaffirm that the relations between Serbia and the Russian Federation are at a very high level and that they are strategic partner relations. This is also reflected in the fact that we shall be celebrating a significant anniversary this year – 180 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

I would like to thank President Putin and Minister Lavrov for their unreserved support to the interests of Serbia. Had it not been for Russian support, we would not have been able to defend our national interests and territorial integrity. For its part, Serbia has reciprocated by not aligning itself with the sanctions against Russia and its people, nor will it do so in the future.

The support of Russia is important to us, and in this context, President Vucic and I keep the Russian leadership informed about the course of the dialogue with Pristina.

As Sergey said, the Albanian side has fulfilled none of the agreements made. It is our wish to reach a compromise and an agreement, but apparently double standards have been applied, particularly by the West, which let Pristina off the hook when it comes to its commitments.

As the dialogue continues, we will further maintain close contacts with the Russian Federation because we believe that no solution can be found unless supported by Russia.

There has been a change in some Western countries which now allow for a compromise solution to be discussed at all, while before they used to say that this issue had been resolved.

We have been preparing for the visit by President Putin – an event of an overriding importance to us, to be preceded by a session of the Joint Committee on Cooperation.

We are able to contact, inform and reach each other at any moment, and this is proof and a demonstration of a great friendship fostered between us”, the Serbian Foreign Minister said at a joint press conference.

The Russian Foreign Minister noted that the Kosovo Albanians had for years failed to honour the EU-facilitated agreements with Serbia, adding that the EU needed to use its influence on Kosovo.

“We can see the constructive approach adopted by Belgrade in the EU-facilitated talks with Pristina. However, the same cannot be said about the approach of Kosovo Albanians. They have failed to fulfil what was agreed many years ago”, Lavrov underlined.
Minister Lavrov emphasized that preparations were underway for the visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Serbia.

“Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Serbia. Preparations for this meeting are now going on”, Lavrov stressed.

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Consular post headed by Honorary Consul of the Republic of Serbia Fikret Ozturk was established in Antalya, today, 19 August 2018, in the presence of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Turkey, Ivica Dacic and Mevlut Çavuşoglu.

The event was attended by many officials of the Antalya Province, including the Governor and Mayor of Antalya and prominent businessmen from this part of Turkey. The consular post, located at seven-star Regnum Hotel, in Belek (Kadriye Bolgesi, Uçkum tepesi, Mevkii, 07500 Serik, Belek), in the immediate vicinity of Antalya Airport, was established to provide assistance and consular protection to nationals of Serbia visiting/staying in the Antalya region.

The occasion offered an opportunity for talks between the two Ministers, who discussed bilateral cooperation and regional issues, in a bilateral meeting. Both sides assessed that the relations between the two countries were at a high level, encouraged by the personal relationship between the two Presidents, and affirmed by very frequent visits exchanged at the highest level. It was reiterated that, as a result, economic cooperation soared, trade reaching an annual total of 1 billion US dollars, targeting 3 billion within the shortest period of time. The number of tourists travelling between the two countries is on a continuous rise, currently totalling 100,000 Turkish tourists in Serbia and 140,000 Serbian tourists in Turkey respectively, reflecting the deepening of relations and growth of bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding.

It was assessed that there was a high level of convergence of views between Serbia and Turkey on a number of international issues, and that it was necessary to continue to work together in order to improve the position of both counties on the international scene.

Areas where further cooperation will be deepened include the fight against terrorism, establishment of cultural centres and cooperation on investments, among others.

It was mutually confirmed that efforts were being made to build such relations, and that friendship between Serbia and Tukey was a joint investment in their future generations.
Minster Dacic reiterated that, as a reliable and true friend of Turkey, Serbia stood open to all types of cooperation.

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The address of First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic in Arilje, at the ceremony of delivering keys of 15 apartments to refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, within the framework of the Regional Housing Programme in Serbia:

“Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends of the Regional Housing Programme,

It gives me great pleasure to address you at this ceremony and mark with you the completion of apartment building construction and a new beginning for the people who will move into these housing units. The pleasure is even greater to know that a week after we laid the foundation stone for new apartments in Veternik, keys to 15 apartments will be given to our fellow citizens who were forced to flee conflict areas of the former Yugoslavia. The apartments we hand over today are housing units completed under Subproject 4 of the Regional Housing Programme.

I would like to recall that the construction of housing units in Arilje represents a part of implementation of the Regional Housing Programme as the most important regional initiative to reach durable solutions to the long-standing problems of persons displaced by conflicts in the 1991-1995 period. The Republic of Serbia is committed to an efficient implementation of undertaken obligations as exemplified by our today’s participation in the key delivery ceremony, which is an important symbolic gesture of support for the refugees who opted to settle in the municipality of Arilje.

The construction of housing units in Arilje commenced in July 2017. The project was financed by the Regional Housing Programme Fund, in the amount of 330 thousand EUR and by a contribution of the municipality of Arilje, in the amount of 10 million RSD. Within this project of the Regional Housing Programme, five country houses totalling 55 thousand EUR in value terms, have also been bought.

I would also like to underline that within the Subproject 4 of the Regional Housing Programme there will be a total of 661 housing units for refugees throughout Serbia. Apart from 261 apartments, other types of housing units within this Project, whose worth amounts to 13 million EUR, are almost complete – 70 country houses have been bought out, 30 prefabricated houses have been built, and the largest part of 300 packages of construction material has been delivered.

Dear friends,

Refugees who were forced to leave their homes throughout the former Yugoslavia at the end of the last century deserve certainty and life in dignity after more than 20 years living as refugees and in conditions unworthy of human beings. In this respect, arriving at a solution for the refugee issue is the single most important moral obligation of the state and of the international community. Our belief, but also the belief of our partners from international organizations, is that we have achieved significant results in this regard, which makes the Regional Housing Programme a successful initiative and a positive example of reaching durable solutions to humanitarian consequences of forced displacement.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia, with other partners, remains firmly committed to and engaged in implementing the Regional Housing Program which will ensure housing for 6,000 families in Serbia, out of which 2 102 persons will have been provided for following today’s ceremony. The full implementation of the Programme will improve each individual person’s life, although it is only a partial compensation for the suffering triggered by forced displacement from their home regions. We hope that our fellow citizens who move into the apartments today will find peace and security in them, after two decades of hardships. I wish them a warm welcome to their new homes and a successful new beginning!

I would like to thank representatives of the local self-government and the citizens of Arilje for their cooperation, not just in the implementation of the Housing Programme, but also for their help and solidarity during the reception of a few hundred refugees and displaced persons. The understanding and support of the local community remains invaluable.

Last but not least, without mentioning anyone in particular, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all donor countries, as well as our partners from international organizations, who have been supportive since the very beginning of our efforts to help with providing housing for the most adversely affected refugees from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Thank you.”

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First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic received today a farewell call from the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Joo Dae Jong.

On the occasion, Minister Dacic thanked Ambassador Joo for a very successful and dynamic cooperation during his term in Belgrade.

During the conversation, both sides noted the friendly and highly developed bilateral relations, and a strong interest in their further enhancement. Particular emphasis was laid on the significant potential for economic cooperation between the two countries, as well as multiple investment opportunities for Korean companies in Serbia.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea thanked Minister Dacic for the warm reception and excellent cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other institutions of the Republic of Serbia.

It was jointly noted that all conditions were in place for intensifying political dialogue and promoting bilateral cooperation between the two countries in all areas.

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