National Assembly Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic declared this a historic visit evidenced, he hopes, by its significance, as it should launch an era of prosperous overall cooperation between Serbia and Indonesia, particularly as regards economic relations.

Stefanovic noted that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Jakarta in March would boost the two countries’ relations especially in the sphere of parliamentary cooperation, as well as stimulate economic cooperation. The memorandum provides a starting point for dialogue and further deepening of relations at the level of parliamentary friendship groups and assembly committees, said Stefanovic, adding that stimulating economic cooperation means ratifying the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Investment Protection, which he hoped Indonesia would ratify too thus facilitating the arrival of Indonesian companies onto the Serbian market.

All types of cooperation stemming from closer parliamentary cooperation are also related to direct agricultural and touristic cooperation. In addition, continued Stefanovic, direct contact and cooperation in the spheres of education, student exchange, sport and culture should also be realised.

Stefanovic believes that organizing a Serbia-Indonesia business forum in Belgrade would be an important step in stimulating economic cooperation, saying he was pleased about the announced visit of the Indonesian economic delegation headed by the President of the Investment Coordinating Board, as well as by the fact that the Indonesian company Indofood had decided to open production capacities in Serbia, which is the first bigger Indonesian investment into the country.

He drew particular attention to the inter-religious dialogue, reminding that the first inter-religious dialogue was held in Belgrade in 2011, which is to be continued in Jakarta this year, saying that Serbia is a country of maximum tolerance which believes that wealth lies in a variety of cultures, nationalities and religions.

Serbia expects to be granted a start date for European Union talks, said the Speaker mentioning, among Serbia’s foreign policy and parliamentary diplomacy priorities, regional cooperation as an important factor of stability and economic prosperity. Stefanovic highlighted Serbia’s gratitude for Indonesia’s principled position as regards the non-recognition of Kosovo independence, assuring the guests that Serbia is dedicated to dialogue and finding a solution which would result in peace and prosperity for everyone living in Kosovo-Metohija, regardless of their race, religion or ethnicity. Stefanovic stressed that the conflict in Kosovo was never religious, but ethnic and that population of different religious beliefs had been exiled from Kosovo.

Stefanovic concluded that Serbia would like to develop best relations with Indonesia and wants to cooperate with everyone, regardless of their religion and nationality.

The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives was truly grateful for the friendly and warm welcome and the meeting at the National Assembly House, as well as the opportunity to meet with Serbia’s highest dignitaries, adding that the Indonesian Parliament has a high appreciation and respect for the development of the relations established in 1956, the cold war era and especially at the time the Non-Aligned Movement was set up. It is up to us to continue developing cooperation based on our close historic relations, continued Marzuki Alie, reminding of the former Indonesian President’s first meeting in Belgrade in 1961 at the founding conference of the Non-Aligned. Alie said he hoped that the relations between Serbia and Indonesia should soon become strategic primarily in the political and economic sense, since, he said, we share the same views on economy, trade, investment policy, which should also be the focus of our cooperation.

The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives believes that there is plenty of room for Indonesian investments into Serbia, as well as for the development of trade which is at the moment low, stressing that Indonesia is a big market that Serbia would have a lot to offer to.

Alie commended the religious dialogue stressing that Indonesia and Serbia are similar as they share a great many religious and ethnic communities. Showing support for the dialogue with Pristina, Alie stressed that Indonesia has a principled position on Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, adding that Indonesia does not recognise the independence of Kosovo.

In the end, Marzuki Alie repeated that Indonesia sees Serbia as a strategic partner in economy and politics, hoping that today’s meeting will contribute to the strategic cooperation between their parliaments, governments and people.