Greeting the Norwegian Ambassador, Ljubisa Stojmirovic said that the two countries share a sincere friendship and that Serbia appreciates the support and assistance Norway has been offering it through different types of programmes and funds allocated for various projects. The Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group outlined the problems facing Serbia today, stressing that the fight against corruption and crime is an ongoing process which will also help resolve the mounting economic problems.

Ambassador Kamsvåg announced that the assistance programme for Serbia would be continued, confirming that the Kingdom of Norway would continue to support Serbia’s European integration process, with a special focus on political, economic and social reform. It is important for Serbia to continue its progress toward the European Union and soon join the EU economic life, which is why Norway endorses the continued anti-corruption efforts and urges for an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina because both sides lose otherwise, said the Norwegian Ambassador.

Parliamentary Friendship Group members Prof. Dr Mileta Poskurica, Milorad Stosic and Igor Becic also took part in the meeting. They, too, thanked Norway for its readiness to continue with the support programme for Serbia’s Euro-integration process, reform and social democratisation. They also pointed out the very successful past cooperation with the Norwegian Government in the realisation of numerous projects in the spheres of education, healthcare, sports and culture. They emphasised their appreciation for Norway’s support of Serbia’s progress toward the European Union and understanding how important getting a start date for the talks with the EU and completing the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina are. They invited Ambassador Kamsvåg to take part in the Sixth Sport, Health and Culture Olympics of the Third Age, to be held in September in Vrnjacka Banja.

Taking part in the meeting with the Norwegian Ambassador, MP Srdjan Sajn thanked the Kingdom of Norway for its great support of the inclusion of marginal groups, especially the Roma, into all spheres of social life in Serbia. He invited Ambassador Kamsvåg to take part in the First Meeting of the Interparliamentary Group of Roma elected into national and regional parliaments, to be held in May in Belgrade.