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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbian diplomats fully engaged on raising the country's reputation

Belgrade, 13 January 2023

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic said today that preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state will be the first priority of Serbian diplomacy this year and added that our country is surprised by the selective application of the principles of international law.

When it comes to resolving the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, Dacic pointed out that there are three red lines for Serbia.

The first is that everything signed must be implemented, including UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and the Brussels Agreement. The second is that Serbia cannot recognise Kosovo's independence or agree to Kosovo's membership in the United Nations. The third is that the rights of Serbs in Kosovo must be ensured, said Dacic.

Regarding the incidents in Kosovo and Metohija, that is, the violence against the Serbs, he said that the international community needs to make a broader condemnation of that violence and highlight its true cause.

According to Dacic, membership in the European Union remains Serbia's priority, but a step forward in European integration is needed, as is the willingness of individual countries to support the enlargement process.

Belgrade is trying to gradually align more and more with the foreign policy of the European Union, but it is incorrect to expect full compliance in a situation where there is no readiness of all countries to support the process of Union enlargement, said the First Deputy Prime Minister.

He pointed out that, although there are increasingly loud questions about whether Serbia should go towards the European Union, our answer is clear: Serbia belongs to the European family.

As priorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this year, Dacic stated the improvement of regional cooperation and bilateral relations with all countries in the world, as well as the continuation of the contribution to multilateralism, peace and security in the world and support for Serbian citizens everywhere in the world.

Serbia is determined to redefine relations with its neighbours, as our recent trip to Zagreb showed. We cannot choose our neighbours, but we can work together, said Dacic.

The reception was attended by members of the Government, the ambassadors of the USA and Russia, Christopher Hill and Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko respectively, the ambassadors of Germany and China, Anke Konrad and Chen Bo respectively, other representatives of the diplomatic corps, as well as representatives of the media.