The meeting was also attended by the members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Belarus, headed by Dragomir Karic.
National Assembly Speaker Dr Nebojsa Stefanovic said that Serbia considers Belarus a friendly country, thanking Belarus for its principled support of Serbia’s efforts to maintain its territorial integrity and sovereignty in Kosovo-Metohija. Stefanovic said he expected an overall improvement of cooperation in the future, economic cooperation in particular which shows great potentials for expansion. With the help of the Parliamentary Friendship Group, opined Stefanovic, the time is right to strengthen political and economic ties, as well as ties that would promote parliamentary cooperation, reinforce it and enable joint endeavours on all issues of common interest.
European integration is one of Serbia’s foreign policy priorities and the country is fully committed to becoming a European Union member, which also means setting certain guidelines for a common foreign policy. However, Stefanovic concluded, that does not mean that we will not take care of our special interests, adding that Serbia holds the support Belarus and its officials offered it in extremely difficult times in high regard.
The Belarusian head of diplomacy thanked everybody for the warm welcome he received in all the official meetings he had in Belgrade. Makey stressed that Belarus’ support of Serbia has always been principled and stemming from the two nations’ very close relations and similar history rife with past challenges. Emphasising the importance of the Serbian dignitaries’ state visits to Belarus this year, Makey said that his visit is a continuation of the ongoing process and expansion of overall cooperation, especially economic cooperation which is currently being concretized. The Belarusian Foreign Minister underlined the potential for exporting technical goods from Belarus, and several opportunities for Serbian export into Belarus. Speaking of good examples of cooperation and first results, Makey highlighted initiating production in the Prva Petoletka factory which, he opined, could increase employment.
The Belarusian head of diplomacy, Makey also stressed how important the expansion of parliamentary cooperation is for Belarus, and thanked the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Belarus for its enthusiasm opining that parliamentary friendship groups are the ties of cooperation. Makey also said that Belarus was pleased at the expansion of interregional cooperation, saying that the country considers Serbia its most important partner in the Balkans and a friendly country. The Belarusian Foreign Minister invited the National Assembly Speaker to come and visit Minsk.
The National Assembly Speaker thanked Makey and accepted the invitation, saying that the words of the Belarusian head of diplomacy have encouraged him to develop the two countries’ relations in the future.