Kozarev confers with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama

Reaffirming the mutual commitment to advancing cooperation, Kozarev and Hernández Altafulla reflected on the 72-year history of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

It was assessed that the intensification of high-level and top-level visits represents an effective mechanism for further strengthening bilateral ties, with upcoming political and economic conferences in both countries providing favourable opportunities in the period ahead.

The two sides also reviewed possibilities for expanding economic cooperation, noting that potential areas include the IT, financial, and agricultural sectors. In this context, they discussed modalities for connecting the business communities of Serbia and Panama.

In addition to reinforcing political and economic relations, both sides recognized a mutual interest in closer cooperation in the fields of defence and security, and confirmed their readiness to further develop cultural and educational ties.

Diplomatic training was also discussed, with the conclusion that the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the two diplomatic academies would significantly contribute to this dimension. Concrete next steps on this matter were agreed.

Kozarev informed his hosts about the current situation in Kosovo and Metohija. He emphasized that, in Serbia’s southern province, the human rights of the Serbian and other non-Albanian communities are at serious risk, as are Serbia’s medieval monasteries, which constitute the foundation of Christian spiritual and cultural heritage in the Balkans.

He took the opportunity to reiterate Serbia’s invitation for Panama to participate in the Specialized Exhibition Expo 2027 in Belgrade.

The interlocutors also revisited the earlier initiative aimed at establishing a sister-city partnership between the capitals of Serbia and Panama, agreeing that such a step would contribute to a deeper mutual understanding between the two countries and peoples, while also promoting Belgrade and Panama City as leading regional investment hubs.

Kozarev underlined Serbia’s determination to pursue more dynamic engagement in Latin America through participation in various regional initiatives and more frequent bilateral contacts with individual countries in the region.