The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic received today, at the National Assembly House, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Costas Papacostas.

The talks focused around the political relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Serbia, as well as their future parliamentary cooperation.

Expressing full support of Serbia’s efforts to maintain its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Cypriot Defence Minister Papacostas stressed that Cyprus will always support the principled policy Serbia pursues on its road to European integration and the country’s protection of territorial integrity. Mentioning that he had spent twelve years as a deputy at the Cypriot Parliament, Papacostas emphasised the key role the parliament plays in democratic reform and social democratisation, stressing that the respect for this institution, where all political opinions meet, is of paramount importance.

National Assembly Speaker Djukic-Dejanovic thanked Defence Minister Papacostas for the principled position the Republic of Cyprus has taken regarding Serbia’s territorial integrity. She pointed out that the friendly and honest relations between the Serbian and Cypriot people should be cultivated and all types of cooperation between the two countries should be improved.

At the end of the meeting, the National Assembly Speaker and Cypriot Defence Minister agreed in their estimate that Serbia’s further and speedier integration into the European Union is the highest political priority.