Selaković: Serbia fully supports further intensification of regional cooperation

Minister Selaković, speaking in his capacity as the Special Envoy of President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, stated that the basic motive and meaning of improving cooperation and closer connections in the region was the development and modernisation of the societies in the region, i.e. the well-being of all citizens of the region.

He said that regional cooperation was one of Serbia’s long-term foreign policy priorities, which was to be achieved through active participation in numerous regional initiatives and processes, as well as by initiating new successful forms of regional cooperation.

“The commitment of the Government and President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić to regional cooperation was reflected in the efforts that we, together with our friends from Albania and North Macedonia, made in launching an initiative aimed at facilitating the free movement of people, goods, services and capital which we today call the Open Balkans, which remains open to all stakeholders from the Western Balkans,“ Selaković said.

According to him, Serbia hopes that deepening of economic ties, abolition of border customs controls and other obstacles to free movement in the region, as well as the employability in the entire region, will contribute to reducing the outflow of population and labour.   

“It is important to bear in mind that regional initiatives are not alternatives to European integration, on the contrary, they are fully in line with them,” said Selaković, adding that we must look to the future and continue to work together, respecting each other and above all, respecting common interests.

Also on this occasion Minister Selaković stated that Serbia sincerely regretted the conflict in Eastern Europe, pointing out Serbia's consistent commitment to respecting the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, as one of the basic principles of international law.

The Minister noted that the conflict in Ukraine led to the emergence of a global crisis, primarily in the field of energy security, and disruptions in the global market of food, energy and capital.

“Despite all the above, Serbia has not stopped working on any of the strategic projects during the past period. In the forthcoming period we will continue to make efforts to ensure energy efficiency, infrastructure development and implementation of renewable energy projects,” said Selaković.