The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Dr Vladimir Orlic met today with the Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, to discuss improving relations with the Organization and the continuation of cooperation.
Dr Orlic stressed that the OSCE is one of the most important regional security platforms and that the Serbian institutions have maintained an excellent and successful cooperation with the Organization and its individual institutions. “With the support of ODIHR, we have realized some very important reforms in the area of electoral legislation and by implementing a great many measures ensured the best electoral conditions since the introduction of the multi-party system in Serbia”, said Dr Orlic. He added that the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia enjoys remarkable cooperation with the OSCE Mission in Serbia and its Head Jan Braathu, drawing attention to the delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia’s actively and noteworthy participation in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as confirmed by the Head of the delegation and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Sandra Bozic who also attended the meeting.
Dr Orlic stressed that the Republic of Serbia supports the work of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo-Metohija, based on the UNSC Resolution 1244. “We insist on a consistent respect for the resolution and the principle of OSCE’s neutral status, which I would like to draw attention to since there have been instances of abuse by Pristina in the past”, said the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, adding that Belgrade remains committed to dialogue, maintenance of peace and stability, with clear respect for the red lines pointed out by President Aleksandar Vucic on many occasions. “We demand an urgent cessation of the daily ethnically motivated attacks on the Serbian people in Kosovo-Metohija, end to the usurpation of the northern municipalities populated by Serbs and a definite establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities, in line with the signed and established obligations”, said the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.
He especially praised the dynamic development of relations between Serbia and North Macedonia in the economic, trade and political sphere. He stressed that the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia is ready to fully contribute to future cooperation with OSCE and strengthening of relations between Serbia and North Macedonia.
Bujar Osmani said he was very happy with the OSCE’s cooperation with the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, adding that the purpose of his visit is to highlight and praise the cooperation between the Organization and the Serbian institutions. He stressed that, despite the challenges OSCE is faced with, the Organization continues to enthusiastically promote strengthening cooperation and support the further implementation of reforms in Serbia and the region of South East Europe.
In the course of the meeting, the officials agreed that the relations between Serbia and North Macedonia have reached their highest level ever, as evidenced by the excellent cooperation in the sphere of the economy, especially within the “Open Balkans” initiative. Dr Orlic and Osmani confirmed their readiness to continue to, based on the excellent relations, work together in all areas of common interest.
