On the Official Visit of Mr.Vladimir Makei, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, to Serbia

04 July 2013

04-07-2013

On July 4-5, 2013 Mr.Vladimir Makei, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, is on the official visit to Serbia at the invitation of Mr.Ivan Mrkich, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia.

On July 4 the Minister met with Mr.Tomislav Nikolich, President of Serbia. The parties discussed the implementation of agreements reached during the visit of Serbian Head of State to Belarus in March 2013. The President marked the friendly nature of Belarusian-Serbian relations and confirmed willingness to further development cooperation for the benefit of both countries. The President on his behalf secured political support for joint projects that are implemented and will be implemented in Belarus and Serbia.

On the same day Mr.Makei met with Mr.Ivica Dachich, Prime Minister – Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia. Both sides paid particular attention to the development of bilateral trade and review of joint business projects’ implementation in Serbia. The Minister suggested moving as far as possible from simple trade transactions to industrial cooperation projects. The Prime Minister agreed with this proposal. Assembly of Belarusian tractors and buses in Serbia is a good example of such industrial cooperation.

The parties confirmed mutual interest in establishing joint industrial holdings and offer their production on sale, including on the markets of third countries.

Mr.Dachich accepted the invitation to visit Belarus from Mr.Mikhail Myasnikovich, Prime Minister of Belarus, and suggested to hold his visit in October 2013. It’s expected that the Prime Ministers will approve a kind of “road map” for the implementation of joint projects.

Next meeting Mr.Vladimir Makei held with Mr.Ivan Mrkich, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia. It was emphasized that this is the first official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus to Belgrade since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Belarus and Yugoslavia in 1994.

The Ministers emphasized positive experience of cooperation between both ministries. They agreed to support initiatives and candidatures of both countries in international organizations.

On the same day the Head of the Belarusian Ministry met with Mr.Neboisha Stefanovich, President of the Parliament of Serbia, and members of parliamentary group for cooperation with Belarus. The parties discussed topical issues of cooperation between two Parliaments. They agreed that members of both parliaments will enhance their cooperation in the framework of inter-parliamentary organizations. Serbian Members of Parliament accepted the invitation to visit Belarus.

All meetings were held in friendly and warm way and were widely covered by media.

After the meetings the parties made official statements for media.

On all meetings Serbian counterparts thanked Belarus for the support provided to Serbia on issue of Kosovo and Metohia, including in international organizations.

In conclusion of the first day of the visit the Minister held three rounds of negotiations with Serbian business circles and discussed joint economic projectswith them.

In the evening Mr.Makei took part in the procedure of handing the patents and execuors to the new Honorary Consuls of Belarus in Serbia.

It is expected that on July 5 the Minister will meet Mr.Aleksandr Vuchich, First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Defense of Serbia. Mr.Makei will also visit the city of Novi Sad, where he intends to open an Honorary Consulate of Belarus, visit the factory assembling Belarusian tractors and meet with Serbian businessmen.