National Assembly Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic was pleased by the meeting connecting it with the recent visit of the Turkish Parliament Speaker, Cemil Cicek, and the recent regional gathering in Ohrid where it was decided to form a parliamentary assembly of South East European countries, a regional initiative both Serbia and Turkey take part in. Speaker Stefanovic informed the guest about the priorities of the National Assembly’s work, focusing on the recently completed process of Serbia’s joining the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption, and stressing that the fight against organised crime and zero tolerance for corruption are tasks the Government and Parliament need to tackle, sharing his deep belief that the Turkish Justice Minister is well aware how negative an influence corruption has on investments and the citizens’ trust. Stefanovic said that the Parliament has assumed its role in the fight against corruption through its legislative and oversight function and reflects the severity of the fight against corruption and organised crime.

Speaker Stefanovic deemed the bilateral and multilateral relations with Turkey good, adding that Serbia pays a lot of attention to regional cooperation within which is has several joint initiatives with Turkey. Stefanovic believes that the cooperation should focus on the economy so that we could together create more jobs and improve the lives of the citizens. Stefanovic emphasised European Union accession as a foreign policy goal stressing that Serbia cooperates with the Union countries on harmonising domestic and European legislation.

Thanking for the reception, Turkish Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin declared the two countries’ relations in the past five years satisfactory, stressing that they benefit not only the two nations, but also contribute to world peace. Ergin informed Speaker Stefanovic about the importance of the documents to be signed in Belgrade ensuring full legal protection to Serbian citizens and legal entities in Turkey and vice versa. This will, Ergin said, contribute to the stability and expansion of all types of cooperation. Ergin concentrated on the trilateral relations between Serbia, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina saying that the work of the three countries’ relevant commission is primarily focused on improving both the economic and political situation in the region.

Speaker Stefanovic said he was sure that Minister Ergin’s visit would have a positive effect. Minister Ergin and Speaker Stefanovic assured one another that the judiciary agreements which are to be signed soon would be ratified by the Serbian and Turkish parliaments.