The newly-appointed Ambassador listed the main tasks he would tackle at the new post. The protection and promotion of Serbian interests and maintenance of the existing relations between Serbia and the Vatican with attempts to improve them, but without unwanted concessions by Serbia will be among his priorities. Jelic stressed that the Vatican supports the protection of Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, that it has not recognised the independence of Kosovo-Metohija, and that it also endorses the democratic processes and the Euro-integration process in Serbia. He said that Vatican is the smallest great power in the world, a specific and influential state and an important international partner for any country, particularly smaller ones, like Serbia.
The Committee members asked Ambassador Jelic a number of questions relating to the activities he would employ to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries and wished him success.

The Committee went on to consider and accept the Bill on the Confirmation of the Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on mutual representation and provision of consular protection and services in third countries, in line with the Constitution and legal system of the Republic of Serbia.

Within item – Parliamentary cooperation, the Committee appointed representatives to take part in international meetings in October and November this year.

As part of the discussion on visits realised, the Committee accepted the Report of Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Committee on the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region Aleksandar Cotric, on his visit to Romania from 18 to 20 September 2012 and the Report on the visit by Jelko Kacin, European Parliament Rapporteur on Serbia, from 27 to 29 August 2012.

The Committee acknowledged the minutes of the meetings between the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, MA Nebojsa Stefanovic, and the ambassadors of Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Cyprus, the Slovak Republic, Portugal, Norway, PR China, the Russian Federation, Cuba, USA and Ukraine in Belgrade, the OSCE Mission in Kosovo-Metohija Liaison Officer, Head of the Council of Europe Mission and the chargé d'affaires of the Argentine Embassy in Belgrade, as well as the meeting between the Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Milos Aligrudic and the Norwegian delegation to the Council of Europe PA..

The Committee sitting was chaired by Milos Aligrudic, Committee Chairman.