The meeting was dedicated to the current political situation primarily in Slovenia, but Serbia as well, with a special focus on the reform the Serbian society should implement on its way toward European integration. The officials also discussed the economic situation and cooperation between the two countries, deeming it excellent and emphasising the importance of the interest for Slovenian investment into Serbia.
The Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Slovenia stressed that Serbia follows the Slovenian experiences very closely, as it was the first Balkan country to go through the transition process, adding that Serbia finds the experiences invaluable especially in view of the reform process and the process of harmonising domestic and European Union legislation. To that end, Slovenia’s support of Serbia’s European integration is very important, deemed Ilic Stosic. She underlined the importance of the friendly relations between the Serbian and Slovenian people, evidenced by the fact that the majority of tourists visiting central Serbia come from Slovenia, which, among other things, provides solid ground for the expansion of the two countries’ cooperation. She informed Ambassador But of the initiative to be launched by Serbian MPs to have the Serbian minority in Slovenia be granted the status of national minority instead of its current status of ethnic community and asked for support.
The Slovenian Ambassador to Serbia, Franc But, said that he would inform the Slovenian colleagues about the Serbian MPs’ initiative, deeming that it could provide a good basis for talks at the parliamentary level. The Serbian people enjoy full support in Slovenian society and exercise their rights evidenced by the fact that in 2011 alone the state allocated 100,000 EUR of support funds for the Serbian community. Also, Slovenia provides financial support for the Orthodox community, and 18 Catholic churches are put at the disposal of the Orthodox community for liturgies in places which do not have Orthodox churches, stressed But. He added that he would inform the Slovenian Parliament’s (Drzavni Zbor) Parliamentary Friendship Group with Serbia about his meeting with the Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Slovenia, saying he hoped the two friendship groups would soon meet.
In the continuation of the meeting the officials exchanged opinions on the activities of the National Assembly and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, noting that Serbia is to about tackle the challenges of social reform, harmonisation of its legislation with EU regulations, as well as establishing dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which will be in the Serbian citizens’ best interest.