At the sitting held on 7 September, the Foreign Affairs Committee conducted an interview with the newly-appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Republic of Bulgaria, Aleksandar Crkvenjakov, before his deployment to diplomatic duty. The sitting was chaired by Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic, Committee Chairman.

Addressing the Committee members, the newly-appointed Ambassador said that his activities shall focus on strengthening Serbia’s political and economic relations with Bulgaria. He particularly emphasised Serbia’s deficitary goods exchange with this country, stressing the potential for placement of Serbian consumer goods onto the Bulgarian market. Although the two countries signed an economic cooperation agreement in 2007, they are yet to form a mixed committee to encourage economic cooperation, increase and stabilise the exchange, the new Ambassador said. He also said that relations with Bulgaria are very important for Serbia, as a neighbouring country and European Union member which can contribute to Serbia’s speedier accession to the EU.

Ambassador Crkvenjakov emphasised the existence of intensive political dialogue between the two countries, impaired only by Bulgaria’s recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija.

Endorsing Ambassador Crkvenjakov’s activity programme, the Committee members emphasised the importance of strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries. Sofia was also said to be the centre of regional parliamentary cooperation which gives Serbia the opportunity to intensify parliamentary contacts. They also pointed out the potential for closer cultural cooperation between the two countries.

As part of item – Parliamentary Friendship Groups, the Committee accepted the addition to the composition of the friendship group with Turkey.

In the continuation, voting on the nominations for parliamentary friendship groups’ presidents, by a majority of votes, the Committee members appointed Milos Aligrudic president of the friendship group with Greece, Tomislav Nikolic president of the friendship group with Cuba and Sinisa Stamenkovic president of the friendship group with Romania.

The Committee accepted several initiatives for the participation of National Assembly delegations in the work of international organisations in September and October of this year. Among them are invitations to the meetings of three Council of Europe PA Committees – Monitoring Committee, Political Affairs Committee and Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, held in Paris on 9, 10 and 11 September. In addition, the members of the standing delegations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia shall take part in the regular autumn PACE sessions held in Strasbourg between 28 September and 2 October, and OSCE PA in Athens, 9 to12 October. They also accepted the invitations for the meeting of the General Committee on Economic Affairs of the Central European Initiative - Parliamentary Dimension, held in Zagreb on 21 September and the international conference dedicated to cooperation between constitutional courts and parliaments aimed at ensuring the supremacy of the constitution, held in Yerevan from 1 to 3 October.

The Committee also adopted several reports on visits and contacts realised in the previous period between Serbian and foreign parliamentarians.