At the sitting held on 25 September, the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee conducted interviews with the newly-appointed Ambassadors of the Republic of Serbia to Ukraine, the Republic of Nigeria, Republic of South Africa, Republic of Angola and Republic of India, before their deployment to diplomatic duty. The sitting was chaired by Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic, Committee Chairman.

The Ambassadors presented their activity programmes for the upcoming period.

The Ambassador of Serbia to Ukraine, Dusan Lazic said that both countries are interested in furthering overall political and economic relations. He mentioned that Ukraine is one of the largest and most populous European countries, boasting significant natural resources. However, further development of economic cooperation necessitates the appropriate legal grounds for future cooperation and the innovation of numerous bilateral agreements from the previous period.

Ambassador Lazic shall also represent Serbia in Moldova, with which, he says, it enjoys good cooperation via several regional organisations and initiatives such as the Danube Commission, Black Sea Economic Cooperation and other.

The new Ambassador to Nigeria, Rifat Rondic stated that this Embassy shall also be covering Ghana and Cameroon. Nigeria is one of the leading West African countries, rich in gas and oil, and one of Serbia’s most important economic partners from that part of the world. The Embassy shall be engaged in intensifying political dialogue with Nigeria and strengthening economic relations, particularly in the energy production sector, construction and air transport.

Ambassador Goran Vujicic shall be representing Serbia in the Republic of South Africa and shall also be covering Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho and Mauritius on a non-residential basis. The Ambassador stressed the great potential for furthering bilateral relations with the Republic of South Africa, in view of its economic power and political influence on the continent.

Talking about his future activities, the Ambassador to Angola, Congo and Gabon, Danilo Milic stated that improving economic cooperation, particularly in the fields of military industry and construction shall be his priorities.

Serbia’s Ambassador to India Jovan Mirilovic pointed out that this is a fast developing country which is already among the ten most developed countries in the world. The traditionally good political relations, however, are not accompanied by a well-developed economic cooperation which calls for more concentrated efforts in this area in the upcoming period. He said that Serbia’s highest officials have announced visits to India as soon as the beginning of next year, which shall serve the countries’ mutual interest. He emphasised how important it is for the improvement of economic cooperation to hold a meeting of the Mixed Committee as soon as possible, where the issue of cooperation between the two countries’ companies and businessmen and attracting Indian capital should be discussed.

The Committee members endorsed the new ambassadors’ activity programmes with some suggestions, and wished them success.