The Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Jelena Zaric Kovacevic said how pleased she was with the participation of the UAE delegation headed by the Parliament Speaker in the 141st IPU Assembly in Belgrade in October 219, opining that it raised the parliamentary cooperation to a higher level.

Ambassador Al Dhaheri briefed the Head of the PFG on the new parliamentary legislature, made up of 50% women MPs, saying that the Emirates pay special attention to the participation of women in political life and the public sphere. Zaric Kovacevic said that the topic was very important for Serbia as well, mentioning the recent amendments to the Law on Election of Members of Parliament and the Law on Local Elections which now guarantee a 40% participation of women in the National Assembly and local assemblies.

In the course of the meeting, Jelena Zaric Kovacevic also thanked the Emirates for supporting Serbia in the vote on so-called Kosovo’s INTERPOL bid, opining that it was also a show of support for the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

The UAE Ambassador said that though his country has recognized Kosovo, it strives to maintain and develop good relations with Serbia and will always try to abstain from voting in Kosovo’s bids to join international institutions. The Emirates are on the side of peace, constructive dialogue and finding a lasting solution which will secure stability in the Western Balkans, said Mubarak Al Dhaheri. He added that the Middle East is faced with a similar instability that started with the Arab Spring of 2011.

The meeting was also attended by the President of Municipality of Niska Banja Dejan Jovanovic and member of the Municipal Council Miroslav Djokic who thanked the UAE Embassy for the donations that helped renovate two village schools in Niska Banja and ensure better working conditions. The friendship between the two countries is reflected in the friendship of the people, which was achieved by the Embassy’s donation, they concluded.