Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Prof. Dr Zarko Obradovic said that the parliamentary relations between Serbia and Iran are at an admirable level, as are relations between all the other levels of government.

He thanked the Iranian colleagues for their country’s principled stance on of Kosovo-Metohija viz. not recognizing its unilaterally declared independence and helping thwart its UNESCO bid.

Chairman Obradovic emphasized the significant participation of women in Serbia’s political life, especially in the National Assembly, reminding the guests that PACE ranked Serbia fifth of 47 countries by the proportion of women in the legislative branch of government.

The Head of the PFG with Serbia at the Iranian Islamic Consultative Assembly Parvaneh Salahshouri said that her country would continue to support Serbia’s territorial integrity and informed the hosts about the activities employed in her country to boost the participation of women in political life.

Committee Deputy Chairperson Dubravka Filipovski said she was happy to see that the head of the Iranian delegation and its Assembly’s PFG with Serbia is a woman. Mentioning that 51.7% of Serbia’s population are women, she stressed that there can be no democratic development without gender equality and went on to inform the Iranian colleagues about the quota system instated in Serbia’s election system to ensure a proportional representation of women and offered them Serbia’s support and experience for the creation of a legislative framework for gender equality.

Committee member Natasa Sp. Jovanovic reminded the attending that 2017 marks 80 years of diplomatic relations between the tw countries, urging to expand cooperation to include economy, culture, energy and infrastructure and increase trade.

Committee member Dr Sanda Raskovic Ivic said that there is room to expand educational cooperation between Serbia and Iran, especially between universities, professors and students.

The meeting, also attended by Committee members Milisav Petronijevic, Nikola Savic, Dr Milorad Mijatovic, Ljiljana Malusic and Jovan Palalic, as well as five members of the Iranian delegation, touched on cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the two countries’ dignitaries’ resolve to advance relations.