On the last day of the 141st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Belgrade, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Maja Gojkovic also met with the parliament speakers of North Macedonia, Nepal, Ethiopia and Fiji.
The Parliament Speaker of North Macedonia Talat Xhaferi congratulated Gojkovic on the organization of the 141st IPU Assembly stressing that it is a clear indicator of Serbia and its Parliament’s commitment to the IPU principles of developing democracy, cooperation and dialogue and that parliamentary diplomacy is a useful tool to deepen cooperation between parliaments.
Gojkovic and Xhaferi discussed the challenges of the Western Balkans’ Euro-integration and agreed that the countries of the region need to be given clear EU prospects, which is important for the region’s political and economic stability, with Xhaferi noting that the Government of North Macedonia has made some brave and difficult decisions on the way.
Speaking of Kosovo-Metohija, the Parliament Speaker of North Macedonia stressed that his country supports dialogue as the principle for solving disagreements.
Gojkovic and Xhaferi praised the joint border control between Serbia and North Macedonia as a good way to strengthen relations and Xhaferi invited the Serbian Assembly Speaker to visit North Macedonia.
Gojkovic also met with the Parliament Speaker of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, stressing that the two countries enjoy traditionally friendly bilateral relations and that this year marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Gojkovic pledged to develop cooperation in the fields of economy, investment, agriculture, trade, culture and education.
Gojkovic thanked Nepal for its principled position on Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty viz. the issue of Kosovo-Metohija, and with it, respect for international law. The Serbian Assembly Speaker said she was ready to advance parliamentary cooperation because Serbia is committed to developing cooperation with its traditional friends.
Timilsina said that Nepal’s participation in the 141st IPU Assembly has forged a strong tie between the two parliaments and commented on the importance of the Serbian Foreign Minister’s visit to Nepal last year and the coming visit of the Nepalese Foreign Minister for the development and strengthening of relations.
Timilsina recalled the cooperation from the time of the Non-Aligned Movement, stating that the two countries share the same values, and stressed that Nepal stands by Serbia as regards Kosovo-Metohija and will continue to develop its politics in the same vein. Timilsina invited the Serbian Assembly Speaker to visit Nepal and open a new chapter in the relations between the two countries. He thanked Serbia for the assistance and support during the earthquakes in Nepal and noted the potentials for developing agricultural and educational cooperation.
In the meeting with the Speaker of the House of Federation of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Keria Ibrahim Ali, the two heads of parliament stressed that the bilateral political relations between Serbia and Ethiopia have been traditionally good and friendly but there is still room to deepen economic as well as agricultural cooperation.
Gojkovic thanked Ethiopia for respecting Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and with it international law which was the overreaching theme of the Belgrade IPU Assembly, and for not voting contrary to Serbia’s interests in international forums.
In the meeting with the Parliament Speaker of Fiji Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Gojkovic said that the Serbian Assembly is prepared to develop cooperation and encourage the government of the two countries to advance relations. The Parliament Speaker of Fiji stressed that Serbia has made remarkable progress and he was very pleased to visit Belgrade and Serbia as an excellent opportunity to consider the potentials for advancing cooperation.
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