The Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group, Dr Dijana Vukomanovic, stressed that the Parliamentary Friendship Group boasts 48 members and is one of the largest at the National Assembly, which attests to the importance Serbia places on the UK and its role in Europe and the world. The UK Ambassador thanked the Parliamentary Friendship Group for the invitation, saying he expected the interparliamentary cooperation to contribute to furthering the overall bilateral relations between the UK and Serbia.

The officials agreed that this is an important moment for Serbia in its progress toward the EU and its active contribution to the stabilisation of relations in the Western Balkan region, especially in the Belgrade-Pristina negotiation process. The UK’s constructive support is extremely important for Serbia to that end. They noted that the UK’s active commitment to EU expansion motivates Serbia and encourages the efforts it puts into progressing toward Europe.

Ambassador Davenport reminded of the 176-year-long tradition of diplomatic relations between the two countries, expecting that the cooperation would intensify in the upcoming period. Dijana Vukomanovic emphasised the importance of the firm historical relations between Serbia and the UK, forged in the First World War, listing the examples of personal heroism and commitment of the UK nurses working in Serbia during the war.

The MPs, members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group, declared their will to join efforts and, in cooperation with the UK partners, contribute to the quality of bilateral relations between Serbia and the UK, both in the spheres of politics and economy, and in other spheres, culture and science in particular. As an excellent example, Dijana Vukomanovic mentioned the support the Westminster Foundation for Democracy offers the National Assembly in the strengthening of the Parliament’s and MPs’ role in the reform process in Serbia. Finally, the Ambassador was pleased to announce the imminent visit of a UK parliamentary delegation to the Serbian National Assembly, around the middle of March, which would be an ideal opportunity for the two parliamentary friendship groups to establish direct contact and discuss future cooperation.