The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic talked today to the Speaker of the National Assembly (Drzavni Zbor) of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Pavel Gantar, currently in official two-day visit to Serbia at the invitation of the National Assembly Speaker. The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Dr Dragoljub Micunovic.

The officials discussed expanding parliamentary cooperation on all levels, as well as establishing more stable and lasting relations between the Republic or Serbia and the Republic of Slovenia.

The Slovenian Assembly Speaker stated that the Republic of Slovenia was interested in furthering the excellent cooperation between the countries not only on the political level, but to expand the existing economic, cultural and sporting relations as well. He added that the high quality of cooperation is evident in the fact that 29 deputies, one third of all the deputies at the parliament, are interested in cooperating with the Serbian parliament via a friendship group. In the meeting, Dr Gantar gave full support to Serbia’s efforts on the road of European integration and repeated his conviction that the issue of visa liberalisation for Serbia would come to a successful conclusion by the end of this year.

The National Assembly Speaker thanked the Republic of Slovenia for its support of Serbia’s progress towards European integration. She stressed that it is a priority goal of the entire society and Serbian citizens.

The Assembly Speaker briefed the guests on the Serbian Parliament’s three-pronged legislative activity: passing pro-European and systemic laws, as well as ratifying financial documents.

At the end of the meeting, all present agreed in the estimate that intensive parliamentary cooperation, via meetings of friendship groups and activities of assembly committees, is the highest priority aimed at Serbia’s speedier integration into the European Union. The officials are of the opinion that Serbia entering the European family shall provide Slovenia with an equal partner with which to present a unified front in international organisations.

After the meeting, the Slovenian Assembly Speaker and the National Assembly Speaker addressed the press gathered at the Ceremonial Hall of the National Assembly House.

The delegation of the Republic of Slovenia went on to talk to the members of the European Integrations Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, Committee on Development and International Economic Relations, Environmental Protection Committee and the National Assembly Deputy Speaker and president of the friendship group with Slovenia, Nikola Novakovic.

In all the meetings, the officials stressed that the visit of the delegation of the Republic of Slovenia shall contribute to a further deepening of parliamentary cooperation between Slovenia and Serbia. The delegation members agreed in their estimate that cooperation has been excellent so far, but that there is still room for improvement.