Selaković and Gallagher: Stable, good and constructive relations between Serbia and the Holy See

At a press conference after the meeting, Selaković said that relations between Serbia and the Holy See are stable, good and constructive, emphasizing that Serbia is determined to continue nurturing and improving overall relations with the Holy See in the spirit of dialogue and understanding.

The minister said that the visit of Archbishop Gallagher, realized only a month after his visit to the Holy See, was an excellent opportunity for further cooperation.

"Successful interstate relations were confirmed during today's meetings, which Archbishop Gallagher had with the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Ana Brnabić and now at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs", Selaković said, expressing readiness to hold the next round of political structural dialogue, which, according to the minister, will be held in the first half of next year.

Also, the minister said that inter-religious relations will be confirmed in the talks that Monsignor Gallagher will have with the representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Selaković emphasized that Serbia and the Holy See also nurture the concurrence of positions in a significant number of issues of international importance, especially when it comes to the protection of Christians and Christian heritage, promotion of human rights, migrants, refugees, but also implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda.

Selaković conveyed that he thanked Archbishop Gallagher for the support that the Holy See provides to Serbia on the path to European integration and principled support on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija.

Serbia considers the EU to be its strategic commitment, said Selaković, noting that we are trying to confirm that with our active political actions.

When it comes to the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, the minister said that he talked with Archbishop Gallagher about the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, which is conducted under the auspices of the EU, about the problems we face in the dialogue process, but also about the threat to Serbian religious, cultural and historical heritage in Kosovo and Metohija.

"I informed the Monsignor about the fact that since 1999 until today, over 150 Orthodox churches and monasteries have been destroyed in Kosovo and Metohija, and that in three days, during the March 2004 pogrom, 34 monasteries and churches were destroyed", Selaković said, pointing out that the absence of a civilizational relationship is indicated by the fact that 256 Serbian Orthodox cemeteries were desecrated, of which as many as 50 were completely destroyed.

Selaković pointed out that the issue of Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo and Metohija is very important, especially having in mind the further cooperation between Serbia and the Holy See in relevant international organizations such as UNESCO.

"In the next period, we will continue to develop our dialogue, we want to contribute, in the spirit of dialogue, to what we care about the most, and that is strengthening peace and stability, which is the basis for any further development", Selaković concluded.

The Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States, Paul Richard Gallagher, said that the diplomatic relations between Serbia and the Holy See are constantly strengthening, and pointed out that the Holy See supports Serbia on its European path.

He expressed satisfaction that he was on an official visit to Serbia for the second time and thanked Minister Selaković for the invitation to visit Belgrade, after the head of Serbian diplomacy paid an official visit to the Vatican last month.

Gallagher added that good relations are also evidenced by the fact that visits to the Vatican were held at the presidential level in 2005, 2015 and 2019, that Cardinal Pietro Parolin visited Serbia in 2018, and that the Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States was on an official visit to Serbia in 2015 and 2019.

The archbishop said that he talked with Selaković about regional cooperation, dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, the situation with migrants.

He also reminded with pleasure that last year marked the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the exhibition "Serbia and the Vatican 1878-1914", which marked the jubilee, was opened this year.