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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Improving friendly, partner relations with Austria

Belgrade, 13 June 2022

Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic stated today that Serbia is interested in further development of friendly and partner relations with Austria, which is the third largest investor in the Serbian economy.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria Alexander Schallenberg, Selakovic underlined that last year, economic and trade exchange between the two countries stood at €1.36 billion, which represents a 36 percent growth over the past four years.

He said that some of the topics of today’s meeting were European integration of Serbia, the situation in the region, in Kosovo and Metohija, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the war in Ukraine.

The Open Balkans Initiative was also analysed, which is not competing with European integration, but aims at improving the living standards of citizens and preparing its member countries better for membership in the EU once the time comes.

Selakovic said that Serbia is clearly on its European path, but that it is necessary that EU Member States reach a consensus on whether they want the Western Balkans to become a part of the EU.

He reiterated that Serbia is committed to staying on the European path, reforming its society for the sake of its citizens, for its economic and business community, because we want to get harmonised with European societies.

Seklakovic underlined that Serbia respects territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and that it condemned Russia’s actions towards Ukraine, but that when it comes to imposing sanctions on the Russian Federation Serbia makes decisions independently, based on national interests and the interests of its citizens, and that no one can expect from Serbia to be against somebody who respects its territorial integrity.

The Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs recalled that from the first day of the Ukrainian crisis, Serbia took a clear stance and condemned actions of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine, and it said that it stands firmly on the position of respect for the basic principle of international law and international relations, and that is respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all internationally recognised UN member states.

Selakovic pointed out that Serbia also clearly shows its position by voting in international organisations, by its attitude towards refugees from Ukraine and by sending humanitarian aid.

Schallenberg said that Serbia and Austria have a close friendship of many years and that Austria is among the three largest foreign investors in Serbia and that Austrian companies are still interested in increasing investment.

He stated that Austria was encouraged to see a clear stance of all countries of the region at the UN session in condemning the aggression of the Russian Federation and added that it should remain so.

Serbia, as the biggest country in the region, also shares considerable responsibility, the Austrian Minister for European and International Affairs underlined and added that regional cooperation and stability are very important, as well as the existence of a regional market.

Schallenberg underlined that it is important that the Western Balkans join the EU in order to prevent destabilisation of the region and stated that the European integration of the countries of the region is of essential and geostrategic importance for the EU.

According to him, Austria’s proposal is that the EU starts to behave step by step towards countries of the Western Balkans as if they were member states already, adding that this proposal has nothing to do with Russia’s attack on Ukraine, but with the need for the EU accession process to have concrete results already now.

Schallenberg said that normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is important and that he believes that the EU has remained the crucial framework and driving force in that process.