Selaković: Very good cooperation between Serbia and Austria

16. Jul 2021.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, met today in Vienna with the Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg, with whom he discussed bilateral cooperation and possibilities for its further improvement.

Selaković said that the relations between Serbia and Austria are very good and that they are characterized by regular contacts and communication at all levels. On this occasion, the head of Serbian diplomacy sent an invitation to Minister Schallenberg to pay a return visit, expressing hope that the visit of his Austrian colleague would be realized by the end of the year.

Selaković pointed out that Austria is the second largest investor in the Serbian economy, and that in the last 10 years, it has invested 2 billion 585 million euros. He especially emphasized that 733 Austrian companies operate in Serbia, employing 22,000 people.

Also, the Minister said that at the meetings he received information about new Austrian companies that are interested in investing in Serbia, which have not been on the Serbian market so far.

When it comes to further economic cooperation, the Minister pointed out that today's conversation was extremely important because he talked with Minister Schallenberg about ways to find the best possible framework for cooperation that would contribute to the recovery of the Serbian and Austrian economies in the post-pandemic period.

The Minister thanked Chancellor Kurz, the Austrian Government and his colleague Schallenberg for the strong support they provide to Serbia on our European path.

The Minister said that he had informed his Austrian colleague about the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, he pointed out that our side was committed to dialogue, and that dialogue was the only way to reach a solution.

Selaković emphasized that it is necessary to reach a compromise solution that would be sustainable and acceptable for both sides.

"We think that it is possible to reach a compromise, it is not easy, but despite all the differences, we think that dialogue is the right way to reach a solution", Selaković pointed out.

Selaković said that he talked with his Austrian colleague about our diaspora, about tens of thousands of citizens of our origin who are Austrian citizens, and that he thanked his Austrian colleague for everything they receive from Austria as a state.