14 February 2018 National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojkovic and the Speaker of the Knesset Yuli-Yoel Edelstein

14 February 2018 National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojkovic and the Speaker of the Knesset Yuli-Yoel Edelstein

Wednesday, 14 February 2018

Gojkovic and Knesset Speaker

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Maja Gojkovic met with the Speaker of the Knesset Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, at whose invitation she is visiting Israel.


Gojkovic and Edelstein agreed that Serbia and Israel should keep developing their already excellent and friendly relations though political dialogue and bustling economic cooperation and that the Serbian Parliament Speaker’s visit, first of its kind since the re-establishment of diplomatic relations 26 years ago, opens new prospects for advancing cooperation and relations.

Gojkovic said it is important to maintain the historical ties between the two nations and develop a more dynamic cooperation between the parliamentary committees, delegations to international parliamentary organizations as well as friendship groups as vital bonds of parliamentary relations.

The Speaker of the Knesset Yuli-Yoel Edelstein said that the close ties between the two countries continue to follow an upward trend, highlighting the importance of utilizing the vast cooperation potential especially in the fields of economy, trade, tourism and culture.

Edelstein said that the Knesset greatly values its relationship with the Serbian Assembly and thanked the Parliament for organizing the anniversary of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Israel.

Gojkovic and Edelstein said that it is vital to stand against any attempts of historical revisionism and to keep the memory of the Holocaust victims alive.

The National Assembly Speaker said that by passing the Law on remedying the consequences of the seizure of assets of Holocaust victims with no living legal heirs Serbia had taken a bold step forward in European bounds. She said that Serbia is preparing a law on the Staro Sajmiste Memorial Centre the construction of which would be very important for both Serbia and Israel.

The Speaker of the Knesset thanked Serbia for its brave stance against any instances of anti-Semitism and for keeping the memory of the Holocaust, adding that the Law on remedying the consequences of the seizure of assets of Holocaust victims with no living legal heirs Serbia, passed unanimously by the Serbian Parliament in 2016, is unique and important and could serve as an example for all the countries of Europe.

The two parliament speakers also discussed economic cooperation and vowed to urge their respective governments to work on deepening cooperation in the IT sector, innovation, construction, agriculture and tourism, and the Assembly Speaker said that more than 70 Israeli companies are doing business in Serbia and the number of Israeli tourists visiting Belgrade is also on the rise.

Gojkovic later had separate meetings with opposition leader Isaac Herzog and the Chairman of the Yesh Atid Party Yair Lapid.

The National Assembly Speaker also took part in the panel discussion co-organized by Knesset’s Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality and Committee for the Rights of the Child on gender equality and the rights of women and children. Gojkovic and the members of the Knesset exchanged views on gender equality and improvement of legislations in the field and the National Assembly Speaker stressed that it is important for the parliaments to pass laws applicable across the board, in every part of the country and segment of society.

The National Assembly delegation also includes Parliament Deputy Speaker and Head of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Israel Prof. Dr Vladimir Marinkovic.



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friday, 29 march
  • 9.00 - the National Assembly Speaker meets with the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Speaker’s Cabinet)

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