The members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Germany met today at the National Assembly House with a delegation of the German Embassy in Serbia, headed by Ambassador Anke Konrad.
At the first meeting of the members of the PFG with Germany with Ambassador Konrad, the PFG Head Dr Aleksandra Tomic pointed out that the number of PFG members - 105, is a clear indicator of the MPs’ interest in the continuation and intensification of both parliamentary and overall bilateral cooperation between Serbia and Germany.
She said that the Serbian parliamentarians’ cooperation with members of the Bundestag has been intense, which highlights the importance of dialogue on topics they are in agreement on, and what is more, on topics where views and positions on certain issues differ.
The officials agreed that the relations between the two countries are broad and cover not only excellent economic cooperation, but are also reflected in the improvement of cooperation in the fields of education, culture, energy, economy, trade, as well as in the field of military and security cooperation.
Ambassador Konrad said she hoped that the Serbian MPs would soon have the opportunity to exchange opinions with their German colleagues and improve cooperation both at the parliamentary level and in international organisations.
The participants of the meeting opined that the bilateral relations between Serbia and Germany are good and that the talks between both countries’ highest authorities have opened up space for further discussions on Serbia’s European integration process and the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
The Head of the PFG with Germany Dr Tomic recalled that the Serbian President had on several occasions reported to the MPs in the National Assembly on the course of the negotiation process between Belgrade and Pristina, the position and life of Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo-Metohija, red lines and the 10 points of the plan for further discussions. She opined that though a number of topics have been opened for discussion in the European integration process, the reform processes Serbia has implemented so far should also be taken into account. Tomic pointed out that regional cooperation, preservation of peace and stability and further strengthening of the Open Balkans initiative, which is in no way contrary to the Berlin Process, are extremely important for Serbia.
In the conversation with the German Ambassador, also attended by PFG members Dr Zoran Lutovac, Bosko Obradovic, Djordje Stankovic, Miodrag Gavrilovic, Aleksandar Markovic, Aleksandar Mirkovic, Jasmina Karanac, Natasa Tasic Knezevic, Nikola Radosavljevic, Elvira Kovacs and Snezana Paunovic, there was also talk of cooperation as a kind of mechanism for a better understanding of the situation in Kosovo-Metohija and the preservation of Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo-Metohija, the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities, the Serbian diaspora in Germany, German national minority in Serbia, intensification of student exchange and cooperation in the field of education and culture, cooperation in the field of medicine, support of German organisations in the implementation of various development projects in Serbia, as well as cooperation during the energy crisis and other.
The officials agreed that a number of topics and issues for future cooperation have been opened at this first meeting of the members of the PFG with Germany with the representatives of the German Embassy in Serbia. PFG Head Tomic expressed her belief that Germany would do everything to make sure international law wins for the sake of peace and stability in the region, which would lead to its further economic progress.
