Talking to the Slovak parliamentary delegation, the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandra Djurovic stressed that European Union membership is Serbia’s number one foreign policy goal, one unanimously endorsed by the National Assembly. It would be extremely important to open the negotiation chapters with the European Union by the end of the year, said Aleksandra Djurovic.

The Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson added that maintaining territorial integrity, regional cooperation and good-neighbourly relations are also among Serbia’s priorities. Serbia is dedicated to the normalisation of relations with Pristina and application of the Brussels Agreement, said Djurovic thanking Slovakia for its principled position and non-recognition of the self-proclaimed independence of Kosovo.

The officials agreed that Serbia, as the biggest country in the region, is the chief factor of regional stability and that good regional relations contribute to economic prosperity and the European prospects of the Western Balkans.

Slovak Parliament Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the PFG with the Western Balkan countries Jana Lassakova said that Slovakia supports Serbia’s EU integration and its extensive reforms. She emphasised the excellent status of the Slovak minority in Serbia and its rights to education and information in the mother tongue.

The parliamentarians also discussed the representation and position women have in the Serbian and Slovak parliaments.

The meeting was also attended by Committee Deputy Chairperson Dr Dijana Vukomanovic and Committee member Dr Aleksandra Tomic.

The Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional and Legislative Issues Dr Aleksandar Martinovic briefed the Slovak colleagues on the scope of the Committee he chairs and explained the procedure of submitting bills in the Republic of Serbia, stating that the National Assembly receives most bills from the Government.

Aleksandar Martinovic stressed he appreciated Slovakia’s assistance concerning European integration and thanked Slovakia for its principled position and non-recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija. Martinovic said that Serbia is fully committed to the application of the Brussels Agreement, opining that the provisional institutions in Kosovo-Metohija do not put enough efforts into the implementation of the part of the Agreement relating to the establishment of the community of Serb municipalities.

Speaking of Serbia’s relations with other states, Martinovic said that Serbia pursues a balanced foreign policy, which, as an EU candidate, it is obliged to adjust to the EU foreign security policy. Martinovic said that Serbia cannot institute sanctions against the Russian Federation considering Serbia and Russia’s historical, political and economic interests and relations.

Slovak Parliament Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the PFG with the Western Balkan countries Jana Lassakova thanked Serbia for creating an environment conducive to the maintenance of the cultural and lingual identity of the Slovak national minority, opining that it should serve as example to other countries. Jana Lassakova offered Slovakia’s experience of the EU accession process, hoping that the two countries’ economic relations would soon be raised to a higher level.

The officials agreed that the parliamentary cooperation between Serbia and Slovakia should be intensified as well.

The meeting was also attended by MPs Gordana Comic, Zarko Micin and Dragan Polovina.