The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Dr Vladimir Orlic met today with Italian Ambassador to Serbia H.E. Luca Gori to discuss the continuation of overall bilateral cooperation with a special focus on the economic and interparliamentary level.
Dr Orlic emphasised the importance of the mutual support and friendly relations between Serbia and Italy, at the same time expressing his belief that interparliamentary cooperation would remain intense in the coming period.
Economic relations between Serbia and Italy are at an extraordinary level, opined the National Assembly Speaker adding that Italy is Serbia's third foreign trade partner and the second largest export market.
Dr Orlic thanked Italy for its support of Serbia’s European integration and the comprehensive reforms implemented in the process which contribute to the economic development of our country. "This state policy received the citizens’ unequivocal support in the recent presidential and parliamentary elections," he stressed.
Ambassador Gori pointed out that the great friendship between our two peoples should be invested in and developed into concrete projects. Economic relations are very good, he opined stating that it would be useful to expand cooperation beyond traditional areas to high-tech sectors, such as agri-tech, artificial intelligence, energy diversification and environmental protection.
Ambassador Gori stressed that Italy would continue to support Serbia's further progress on the European path to full membership in the European Union, both through continuous support for the reforms in the country and active advocacy of Serbia's European perspective in Brussels.
He said that Italy is following the developments in Kosovo- Metohija very closely, stressing that it highly appreciates Serbia constructive approach, headed by President Aleksandar Vucic, in solving all problems. He went on to say that in October of this year, Italy would again be taking over command of the KFOR Mission in Kosovo-Metohija.
Dr Vladimir Orlic said that Serbia has a clear interest in furthering cooperation with the KFOR Mission, as a guarantor of the security of our people in Kosovo-Metohija, which faces daily pressures due to the irresponsible and dangerous actions of the Provisional Institutions in Pristina. Serbia will always support a solution that ensures peace and stability, pointed out the National Assembly Speaker adding that this process entails compliance with agreed obligations on both sides, however Pristina ignores the obligation to establish the Community of Serb Municipalities. Also, Dr Orlic expressed special thanks for the cooperation between the National Assembly's Commission Investigating the Consequences of the 1999 NATO Bombing and the Italian Chamber of Deputies’ Parliamentary Commission for the Investigation of the Effects of the Use of Depleted Uranium, and their sharing the entire documentation and results of the research with our side.
The meeting also touched on the importance of strengthening regional cooperation and, in that sense, the "Open Balkans" initiative.
