Statement by Ivica Dacic, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia at the 2018 OSCE Mediterranean Conference

OSCE Malaga, Spain.Distinguished Minister Borell,
Distinguished Minister Lajčak,
Your Excellencies,
Dear Colleagues,

Allow me to begin by thanking our hosts for organizing this year’s Mediterranean Conference on energy and environmental cooperation and for bringing together key energy experts from the public and private sector from both sides of the Mediterranean to discuss policies, develop strategies and identify business opportunities.

OSCE is a forum for dialogue and discussion for Participating States as well as for our partners, offering a toolbox and a platform to decrease tensions, correct misperceptions, and promote a culture of tolerance across the OSCE area and beyond. Helsinki Decalogue recognized the importance of the Mediterranean dimension and its relevance for the security and stability in Europe. This link has been obvious especially in these challenging times, when complex tensions and conflicts again highlight the increasing interdependence of our regions.
Based upon the existing decisions and declarations in the OSCE’s Economic and Environmental dimension, our Organization is well-placed to contribute to energy and environmental cooperation and to complement the efforts of other international organizations.

We note, with appreciation, that the 2018 Mediterranean Conference, and in particular its high-level political segment, is focused on how to leverage energy to promote economic growth and international co-operation in the Mediterranean region. Therefore, this year’s Mediterranean Conference has good potential for increasing cooperation between the OSCE and Mediterranean Region. This important event will provide us with an opportunity to exchange views on issues that are highly relevant to the agenda of both sides of the Mediterranean. Security in Europe is closely linked with security in the Mediterranean as a whole, and economic, energy and environmental issues are increasingly important factors of the Euro-Mediterranean security equation.

The decades-old OSCE Mediterranean Partnership traditionally geared towards the goals of peace, stability, and prosperity, has much to gain from enhanced dialogue on energy and environmental cooperation. Sustainable and reliable energy at affordable prices is a precondition for prospering economies and peace and security throughout the OSCE and its Mediterranean Partners.

There is hardly another domain than energy in which the indivisibility of Euro-Mediterranean security is more important and consequential for the stability of States, the prosperity of local economies, and the well-being of societies. The development of clean or renewable energy technologies can provide economic opportunities to countries with substantial conventional energy resources, as well as those who lack such resources by offering an alternative means to power their economies and generate jobs for their citizens. Renewable energy today represents a key solution to the challenges of energy supply, security and climate change.

The OSCE serves as a platform for dialogue and co-operation in a number of fields, and offers a suitable venue for exchanging best practices and building capacity to maximize the economic benefits of renewable as well as of traditional forms of energy, facilitating public and private partnerships and the transfer of know-how. Energy enables not only economic development, it also contributes two-thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions and is, therefore, critical for the climate change process. Cooperation in securing the energy supply, transit and demand chain, and the use of new and renewable sources of energy should aim at building a vision for a sustainable energy future in the 21st century in the Mediterranean region and beyond.

The magnitude and complexity of the challenges faced by the Euro-Mediterranean region cannot be addressed by a single state or organization on its own. Therefore, there is no alternative to working together. Moreover, dealing with complex challenges that we are facing will only be successful if we join our efforts and manage to act with full respect to the basic values, principles and commitments of the OSCE.
The Republic of Serbia remains committed to pursuing and strengthening cooperation with Mediterranean partners, including through the OSCE, wherever the Organization can be of assistance with its comprehensive approach to security.

Thank you, Mr.Chairman


Every victim, and particularly those crimes based on race and ethnicity, is worthy of utmost respect and remembrance, and such crimes are reprehensible

Ivica Dacic with Prof. Dr. Gideon GreifFirst Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic received Prof. Dr. Gideon Greif, an Auschwitz expert and author of the book “Jasenovac: Auschwitz of the Balkans – the Ustasha Empire of Cruelty”. The meeting was also attended by President of an Auschwitz survivors association Moshe Ha-Elion, President of the Association of Jasenovac Survivors Milenko Cekic as well as Auschwitz and Jasenovac survivors.

Minister Dacic thanked Professor Greif and Auschwitz and Jasenovac survivors for their efforts in combating attempts made at revisionism and justification of crimes. Every victim, and particularly those crimes based on race and ethnicity, is worthy of utmost respect and remembrance, and such crimes are reprehensible.

Professor Greif launched his 700-page multidisciplinary study today at the 63rd International Belgrade Book Fair in attendance of Auschwitz survivors, editorial board honorary members who visited Belgrade on this occasion for the first time since the World War II to show their support to the Jasenovac survivors.

Also present at the book launch were Ambassador of Israel in Belgrade Dr. Alona Fisher-Kamm, honorary member of the editorial board and President of an Auschwitz survivors association Moshe Ha-Elion (96), a special guest B. Greif (92) – head of Israeli police at the time of Golda Meir and an associate of Simon Wiesenthal, as well as Israeli professors and experts on the Holocaust, anthropology and forensics and Judaic studies.

A globally recognized Auschwitz expert, Prof. Dr. Gideon Greif has researched death factories for 41 years offering for the first time in his new book a comparative analysis of Jasenovac and Auschwitz, as two notorious examples of World War II death camps. The book presents the results of his research based on survivor testimonies. Professor Greif has documented 57 methods of killing and torture used on Jasenovac inmates, while also analyzing controversies on the death toll and the phenomenon of WWII crimes denial, including the problem of the resurgence of neo-Nazism in Europe and beyond, focusing on neo-Ustashism, and pointed in particular to the research of the World Jewish Congress analysts on the rehabilitation of Ustashism.

Professor Greif reiterated his concerns with the publishing of books on infamous commanders of the Jasenovac death camp and expressed hope that progressive forces in Croatia would prevail with support from Jewish and anti-fascist organizations.

Particularly for this occasion, the publishers including the U.S. Holocaust Foundation, Israel’s Shem Olam Holocaust Institute, National Forensic Institute and Academic College of Judaic Studies visited our country and attended the book event.


Minister Dacic offers condolences to Minister of External Affairs of India Sushma Swaraj

Ivica DacicFirst Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic sent a message of condolences to Minister of External Affairs of India Sushma Swaraj, following a tragic loss of many lives in a rail accident which took place in India’s State of Punjab.

“It is with deep sadness and disbelief that we received the news of the severe accident in your country, which turned a feast of joy into a day of sadness.

Allow me to extend to you, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and on my own behalf, most profound condolences following the loss of innocent lives.

It is difficult to find words of consolation for those who have lost their loved ones. Please convey heartfelt sympathy of the Serbian people to the families and friends of the deceased, and to the citizens of India, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured”, reads the condolence message signed by Minister Dacic.


Ambassador Filipovic talks to Assistant Deputy Minister and Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Branimir Filipovic with Mr. David KoneckýActing Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of security policy, Ambassador Branimir Filipovic had a meeting today with Mr. David Konecký, Acting Deputy Minister and Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, who is visiting Serbia to participate in the Belgrade Security Forum.

In the meeting, the two sides expressed satisfaction with the existing level of relations between Serbia and the Czech Republic, and with their development pace, at both bilateral level and in the framework of NATO’s Partnership for Peace Program.

The interlocutors exchanged views about the political and security situation in the region, in Kosovo and Metohija, and the current security challenges and threats. The Serbian side reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation, with the aim of preserving peace and stability and further enhancement of economic development of the entire region.