Selaković: Regional development is not possible without preserving stability and improving good neighbourly relations

10. Jun 2022.
Today Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selaković stated that modern geopolitical events affirmed the importance of improving regional cooperation and conducting a responsible regional policy, which notably meant resolving all open issues through dialogue.

In addressing the participants in the ministerial meeting of the South East European Cooperation Process which is being held in Thessaloniki, Minister Selaković said that the development of the region was not possible without preserving stability and improving good neighbourly relations, to which the Republic of Serbia was fully committed.

According to him, Serbia will continue to be fully committed to promoting healthy relations with everyone in the region, based on mutual respect, understanding and commitment to a common European future.

“Enlargement policy is surely one of the most important instruments of the European Union, not only for ensuring the stability of the region and its further economic prosperity, but also for the stability and security of the entire EU. That is why our joint engagement is of particular importance as regards positioning towards EU institutions in order to form a positive image of the region, as well as maintaining the issues of interest to the region in the EU focus,” said Minister Selaković.

According to him, full membership in the European Union is one of the foreign policy priorities of the Republic of Serbia, and Serbia believes that the place of the entire region is in the EU because without its inclusion, the European political and economic space will not be complete.

Referring to the situation in Ukraine, Selaković said that Serbia was fully committed to respecting the principles of territorial integrity and political independence of states, as one of the basic principles of international law.

“As we are committed to preserving the sovereignty and integrity of our territory, the Republic of Serbia is also committed to respecting the territorial integrity of other sovereign states, and thus Ukraine. I would like to emphasise that the Republic of Serbia is in principle committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes and that, in this regard, it supports all efforts towards negotiations. We are also ready to provide all kinds of humanitarian aid to the endangered population and to participate in the reconstruction of cities in Ukraine,” Selaković said.

Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia will address the participants of the Summit of the South East European Co-operation Process and will have the opportunity to hold bilateral meetings on the margins of the meeting in Thessaloniki.