First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic met today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic, Mr. Angelino Alfano, who is visiting the Republic of Serbia.
Both officials noted a high level of bilateral relations, characterized by an intensified political dialogue, highly developed economic cooperation and by large Italian investments in Serbia. They also assessed that the Governments of the Republic of Serbia and the Italian Republic would hold their joint session by the end of the year. Both sides expressed an interest in continuing the trilateral cooperation at the level of Foreign Ministers between Serbia, Italy and Albania.
Particular emphasis was placed in the talks on the current Italian Chair of the Berlin Process and on the preparations for the EU-Western Balkans Summit to take place in Trieste on 12 July.
Minister Dacic extended special gratitude to Italy for the continued support offered to Serbia on its EU path, stressing the importance of the Italian commitment concerning the approach to the South East Europe region, as also reflected in its engagement and activities related to the Berlin Process Chair this year.
Minister Alfano underlined that Italy would continue to support Serbia on its European path in the future as that was where Serbia naturally belonged, and he commended the reforms undertaken and results achieved by Serbia in European integration processes.
Minister Alfano extended an invitation to Minister Dacic for a return visit to the Italian Republic.
Ministers Dacic and Alfano signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the MFA of the Italian Republic in the field of bi-lingual Serbo-Italian classes in the Republic of Serbia. It was mutually assessed that the signing of this bilateral document was yet another step forward in the cultural and educational cooperation and rapprochement between the Italian Republic and Serbia.