Presenting the programme of activities, Ambassador Jevtic said that Serbia was interested in improving bilateral relations with Belarus. He pointed out that, after the signing of the Free Trade Agreement, the trade between the two countries had tripled and due to a high level of compatibility between their economies there is great potential for further strengthening of economic cooperation particularly in the agrarian sector, food and processing industries, car and tractor industries. The CEFTA agreement also offers ample opportunity for cooperation.

Ambassador Jevtic said that he was aware of the challenges he would face but that there was scope for political dialogue between the two countries and strengthening interparliamentary cooperation.

Presenting her programme of activities, Ambassador Hrustanovic stated that her goal is to raise the cooperation with Slovakia onto the level of strategic partnership. She stressed that the two countries cooperate closely and that she would endeavour to create a better ambient for economic cooperation and bigger investment into Serbian economy.

The new Ambassador to Japan Bojana Adamovic Dragovic said that the political relations with that country were on the rise, highlighting the need to strengthen parliamentary cooperation between Serbia and Japan. She said that the level of trade was unsatisfactory and the fact that the Japanese market is extremely selective discouraged Serbian businessmen.

The Committee members made suggestions and comments to the presented programmes for the newly-appointed ambassadors’ further work.

The sitting was chaired by Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic, Committee Chairman.