National Assembly Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Marina Ragus, met with a delegation of the Switzerland–Serbia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Federal Assembly of the Swiss Confederation, with whom she discussed current political and economic issues, Serbia's European integration, the improvement of bilateral cooperation, as well as the situation in Kosovo-Metohija.
Ragus stressed that Serbia and Switzerland have significant room to improve relations further, especially in the field of economic cooperation and investment, pointing to the significant growth of foreign investment in Serbia. She stressed that the economy is the basis of Serbia's development and policy, while membership in the European Union is our country's strategic goal.
She thanked Switzerland for understanding the challenges Serbia faces on its European path, emphasising that, although it is not a member of the European Union, Switzerland can significantly contribute to the exchange of knowledge with its experience.
As areas with potential to further connect the two countries, Ragus singled out the digitalisation of public administration, development and opening of data centres, diversification, as well as monitoring modern trends in the field of artificial intelligence.
Speaking about education, she pointed out the importance of Switzerland's experience in the field of dual education and the support that Serbia receives in considering its benefits. She also reminded that the candidate for Prime Minister on the Serbian Progressive Party's electoral list, Aleksandar Vucic, announced a major reform of the education system. Touching upon the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections, she reminded that Serbia has adopted all the ODIHR recommendations and stressed the importance of a transparent, fair and just electoral process for all participants.
A significant part of the conversation was dedicated to the situation in Kosovo-Metohija. Ragus pointed out, as she said, the permanent violation of the fundamental human and civil rights of Serbs and members of other non-Albanian communities, emphasising that such a situation is unacceptable in the 21st century and on European soil. She called on Switzerland to examine the situation in Kosovo-Metohija with particular attention. She repeated that Serbia consistently holds the position that every dispute can and must be resolved exclusively through dialogue, pointing to the non-compliance with the Brussels Agreement, which, as she emphasised, is particularly reflected in the fact that the Community of Serb Municipalities has not been formed even 13 years after its signing. She recalled that the European Union was the guarantor of the Brussels Agreement and assessed that its non-compliance further encourages Euroscepticism in Serbia.
The Head of the Switzerland–Serbia Parliamentary Friendship Group Christian Imark said that the information presented provides him with a new perspective on the situation in Kosovo-Metohija and that it will certainly be taken into account when Switzerland expresses its opinion on the issue of the so-called Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe.
He pointed out that the Switzerland-Serbia Parliamentary Friendship Group is one of the largest friendship groups in the Swiss parliament and that its members strive to bring all current topics in the relations between the two countries closer to the MPs, with special emphasis on the situation in Kosovo-Metohija.
Speaking about the further development of relations between the two countries, he emphasised the great desire of the group members to strengthen interparliamentary cooperation and agreed with Ragus' assessment that connecting and exchanging experiences between the two parliaments’ committees could significantly contribute to raising cooperation between Serbia and Switzerland to a higher level.
Imark also pointed to the significant role of the Serbian diaspora in Switzerland, stating that a large number of Serbian citizens with dual citizenship live in that country, who are actively involved in its economic life.
The meeting was also attended by members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Dragan Markovic and Bojan Stojanovic, as well as the Swiss Ambassador to Serbia, Anne Lugon-Moulin, and the Serbian Ambassador to Switzerland, Ivan Trifunovic.
Photo gallery: National Assembly © Milos Miskov