Gojkovic and Syllouris agreed that this is a historic visit as it is the first by a President of the Cypriot House of Representatives to Serbia and that the two countries share a firm friendship and traditionally close ties. Gojkovic stressed that Serbia holds its cooperation with Cyprus in high esteem as it is a country which has throughout history stood by Serbia and its people in times of trouble and continues to offer strong support in matters of national importance.

Gojkovic and Syllouris signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen parliamentary and overall relations, institutionalize parliamentary cooperation and raise it to a higher level. Gojkovic said that the Memorandum opens up new possibilities for cooperation between the parliamentary working bodies in charge of foreign affairs, Euro-integration, economy, agriculture and health care, as well as between parliamentary friendship groups and standing delegations to international parliamentary institutions.

Gojkovic thanked Cyprus for its consistent and principled support of Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a sign of true friendship, and the support in the instances of so-called “Kosovo’s” attempts to join international organizations. The National Assembly Speaker said that Serbia is committed to dialogue, implementation of the Brussels Agreement and finding a compromise solution, pointing out that Pristina has yet, five years after the Agreement was signed, to establish the Community of Serb Municipalities.

Gojkovic said that Serbia supports the territorial integrity of Cyprus and finding a political solution for the two communities.

The National Assembly Speaker thanked Cyprus for its active support of Serbia’s European integration, especially the country’s leadership seeing Serbia as the next EU member, pointing out that Serbia has so far opened 14 EU negotiation chapters and believes that the negotiation dynamics should pick up speed during the Austrian Presidency of the EU Council.

The President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus said that the time has come for Serbia and Cyprus to further their historically friendly relations through concrete results, opining that this visit is a big step toward reaching that goal.

Syllouris said that Cyprus supports UNSC Resolution 1244 and Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its European integration and is an ambassador of Serbia’s cause in the organization, and stands ready to help it become an EU member. Syllouris thanked Serbia for its support of the sovereignty and territorial unity of Cyprus.

Gojkovic and Syllouris endorsed economic cooperation pointing out that the Business Forum in Nicosia in late 2018 would be an excellent opportunity to examine the potentials for economic cooperation.

The President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Syllouris addressed the MPs at a special sitting of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.