The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic met today in Belgrade with the Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs Miroslav Lajcak.

Assembly Speaker Djukic-Dejanovic and Minister Lajcak talked about furthering parliamentary cooperation between Serbia and Slovakia, Slovakia’s support in the European integration process and preserving Serbia’s territorial integrity.

Minister Lajcak stated that Serbia and Slovakia enjoy good political dialogue and that Slovakia is a serious partner in Serbia’s European integration process. Slovakia influences European Union policy towards the Western Balkans, and thus towards Serbia, and Serbia’s success on the road to European integration is in Slovakia’s interest. He emphasised parliamentary cooperation as an important dimension of the overall bilateral relations between the two countries, on the level of parliamentary speakers as well as working bodies and friendship groups. He added that the Slovakian ethnic minority in Serbia is an important factor of the two countries’ bilateral relations, declaring its position a good European model that shows how ethnic minorities can be loyal citizens of the state they live in and still continue to respect and cultivate their own language, tradition and cultural heritage.

Assembly Speaker Djukic-Dejanovic stressed that the National Assembly’s doors are open to those who know the situation in Serbia well, and primarily to those who support Serbia in reaching its two most important goals – keeping Kosovo-Metohija within Serbia and the European integration process. She thanked Minister Lajcak for his country’s principled position on Kosovo-Metohija and stated that there are no disputes in the two countries’ relations. She expressed regret that parliamentary cooperation between Serbia and Slovakia were not better developed, adding that Serbia both desired and needed such cooperation. The Assembly Speaker also emphasised how helpful and significant the Slovakian experiences are for Serbia’s European integration process.