Greeting the guests, Prof. Dr Vladimir Marinkovic stressed that the two countries’ relations are characterized by a high degree of friendship and respect, proven in some of the most difficult times in history. Marinkovic said that the Jewish and Serbian people’s shared fate and suffering in the Second World War only deepened their mutual understanding. We cannot let history repeat itself and Serbia will continue to cultivate its anti-fascist tradition, stressed Marinkovic, adding that the country will continue to take active part in the International Remembrance Alliance. Speaking to the Israeli high-school students Marinkovic went on to say that the National Assembly greatly values the development of relations with Israel as evidenced by the fact that the Law on remedying the consequences of the seizure of assets of Holocaust victims with no living legal heirs had been passed unanimously making Serbia the first country in Europe to have a law of this kind to remedy the historic injustice done to the Jewish people.

Marinkovic stressed that the two countries maintain a high level of political dialogue and should work on strengthening parliamentary cooperation as it is the cooperation between the elected representatives of the people. He also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the two states in international political organizations and thanked the State of Israel for its principled stance on Kosovo’s self-proclaimed independence and respect for Serbia’s territorial integrity.

He went on to add that there is also room to improve industrial, agricultural and IT cooperation between the two countries, as well as in areas requiring human touch such as tourism, culture, science, education and sport. What Serbia also finds invaluable is Israel’s experience in promoting and developing personal entrepreneurship, said Marinkovic.

The PFG members and the young Israelis discussed the economic environment for investment into Serbia and the significant number of Israeli companies investing into the Serbian market. They also spoke about Serbia’s response to the migrant crisis and exchanged views on how young people could assist in the development of relations between the Republic of Serbia and the State of Israel.