On 10 January, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia met the newly-appointed Serbian Ambassador to Belgium, Dr Aleksandar Fatic, before his departure to take up his new post. The sitting was chaired by Gordana Comic.

Setting out priorities of his future work, Ambassador Fatic said that Serbia was just only starting to develop relations with Belgium as an independent state, which is why the coming period was especially significant for its presentation and the development of new relations and co-operation between the two countries. He underlined that Belgium’s importance for Serbia was today much greater than before, as Serbia’s position in relation to the European Union and NATO could most easily be improved through the development of bilateral co-operation with countries such as Belgium. This co-operation could be expected to result in Belgium’s help for Serbia on the international stage, especially as Belgium will become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2007.

Ambassador Fatic also emphasised that special attention should be accorded to political and security-related aspects of bilateral relations with Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as to issues of economic co-operation with these nations.

He also stressed that Belgium had supported Serbia’s accession to the Partnership for Peace programme, as well as that it ranks among countries in favour of Serbia’s accession to the EU, on condition it meets its international obligations, especially those relating to co-operation with the Hague Tribunal.

Ambassador Fatic also said Belgium’s view on negotiations on the status of Kosovo and Metohia was well-balanced, and that it was opposed to the imposition of unilateral solutions. Belgium was in favour of a final solution that would not leave any side feeling as the loser, which why it was important to take its position into account when considering a solution to the final status of Kosovo and Metohia, and the resumption of EU talks, the new ambassador added.

Referring to his upcoming activities, Ambassador Fatic emphasised the importance of establishing inter-parliamentary co-operation in the fields of armed forces and economics. He reiterated that Belgium, one of Europe’s most developed countries, was potentially a large investor abroad, and that a great deal should be done to attract Belgian investment.

Ambassador Fatic will at the same time serve as Serbia’s representative to Luxembourg.

Committee members expressed their support to the programme presented, and underlined the importance of establishing parliamentary co-operation with Benelux countries, as well as with their regional parliaments.