Selaković: Reviving the long friendship tradition between Serbia and Libya

16. Oct 2022.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, met today in Belgrade with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Libya, Najla Mohammed El Mangoush.

When addressing journalists after the meeting, Minister Selaković said that he is confident that the visit of Minister Mangoush will provide additional impetus for joining efforts in successfully revival of long tradition of friendship, and give it a new impulse and quality. 

“I am confident that today’s meetings will make cooperation between our two countries more fruitful and efficient. I am particularly pleased that we have confirmed today mutual readiness for intensifying relations between Libya and Serbia, based on our decades-long friendship and partnership“, Selaković said.  

Minister reminded that diplomatic relations between Serbia and Libya, established in 1955, have been accompanied with intensive political and economic cooperation.

“In order that our descendants can be proud of something good again in the history of our relations, we need to work much more today on strengthening our cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels“, Selaković said.

Serbia is ready to develop with Libya, according to his words, relations in the fields such as agriculture, healthcare, energy, education, defence, but in all other fields which lead to mutually beneficial cooperation as well.

Selaković pointed out at the meeting and made a clear position that Serbia respects sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity as well as national unity of friendly country, Libya.

“We have also asked for more understanding for our position when it comes to the issue of Kosovo and Metohija. I have recognised with the distinguished colleague support to the process of negotiation we are in, and the position that it is only acceptable to seek a solution within diplomatic activities“, Selaković said.

The Serbian Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction with the fact that numerous Libyan students feel at home in our country, and conveyed the readiness of Serbia to continue to be the place where a large number of young Libyan citizens will acquire higher education. 

Minister Mangoush expressed her satisfaction with and the opportunity to visit Serbia, and thanked for support in establishing stability in Libya.

“We hope and we know that this will not be the last visit, and that many other visits from our Ministry and other Ministries to Serbia, as well as from the Republic of Serbia to Libya, will follow”, Minister Mangoush said.

Minister conveyed the invitation to Serbia to reopen its Embassy in Tripoli.

“Libya is recovering and going down the path of restoring stability and peace, welcoming on that path any support from Libya’s friends“, the Libyan Foreign Minister said.

Ministers signed today the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Institute of Diplomatic Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the State of Libya.