Dačić in Baku: Thank you for standing with Serbia today

02. Mar 2023.
At the Summit-level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Contact Group today in Baku, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dačić thanked numerous Member States of the Movement for standing with Serbia and upholding the principles of observing the international law, by not recognising the unilaterally declared independence of the so-called Kosovo.

“Serbia is fully committed to peace and the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue with EU mediation”, said Minister Dačić.

Minister Dačić stated that Serbia, guided by the pacta sunt servanda principle, would continue to insist that the previously concluded and signed agreements be implemented in order for the process to be credible and to continue in good faith.

“We are pursuing a responsible policy, doing everything to ensure that both Serbia’s interests and the regional peace and stability are protected”, emphasised Minister Dačić.

He said that the Non-Aligned Movement could and should always count on Serbia as a friend and partner.

“We firmly believe in a world ruled by dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality, a desire for compromise and pursuit of peace”, said Minister Dačić.

Minister Dačić stated that the United Nations goals and principles as defined by the UN Charter were the backbone of the fight for peace and a better world.

“Equality between countries, observance of their sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes and respecting differences, are, without a doubt, the principles that are today, due to enormous international changes, even more than ever current and needed to achieve the most valuable goal - peace”, said Minister Dačić.

At the Summit-level Meeting, which was dedicated to combating COVID-19, Minister Dačić said that the COVID-19 pandemic was still a current issue, over two years after it had started, and that global changes and challenges were becoming increasingly complex, making it clear that the intergovernmental and interregional cooperation was the key to finding the right response.

In his words, Serbia was deeply convinced that the only way to respond to the issue of the consequences of the pandemic, as well as to other global matters, was unified in solidarity.

“Serbia believes that the Non-Aligned Movement could be an active factor, adequately contributing with its proposals to the resolution of the present global challenges”, said Minister Dačić.

He highlighted the fact that vaccines by five different manufacturers were available in Serbia, and that our country, in these hard times, had not forgotten its neighbours, nor its friends from Asia and Africa, selflessly donating them essential medical equipment and vaccines.

He welcomed the efforts of Azerbaijan, as Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, to establish a special fund for donation to the most vulnerable groups of countries in Africa, as well as island developing countries.

“Serbia is ready to contribute to further improvement of international cooperation”, stated Minister Dačić.

The Summit-level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Contact Group is taking place today in Baku. On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and President Aleksandar Vučić, Minister Dačić thanked Azerbaijan for hosting the Meeting.

Source: TANJUG