Addressing the presidents of parliament, Gojkovic stressed that the European home cannot be complete without Serbia, not only because Serbia sits in the heart of Europe, but also because of its commitment to universal values within the Council of Europe and to the European integration process.

In this year that marks an important jubilee, the 70th anniversary of the Council of Europe, it is essential to recall that all the horrors of WWII that devastated Europe clearly demonstrated the need to set up an institution such as the Council of Europe.

“We must remember the past so that it might never repeat itself. More importantly, we have to look to the future together. Oure common values and institutions such as the Council of Europe have to bring us together to build a strong and free Europe”, Gojkovic said adding that Serbia is committed to finding sustainable solutions through cooperation and dialogue at the regional level, highlighting the importance of PACE’s neutral stance on Kosovo-Metohija and observance of UNSC Resolution 1244.

The Serbian Assembly Speaker said she was glad that Serbia is part of the community of European nations that advocate democracy, foster democratic institutions, rule of law and respect for human rights.

Gojkovic said that respecting common and original values means active advocacy and taking concrete steps, which for Serbia means not only the application of conventions, but cooperation in the field in the domain of strengthening institutions and full activity of its delegation to PACE. In terms of the regional framework, Gojkovic emphasized the importance of the European integration process, stressing that the enlargement policy is an example of a concrete effort on the preservation of common values and it is important to continue with its implementation.

For 70 years the Council of Europe has stood firm on the ramparts of a democratic and free Europe, Europe that respects the rule of law and protects human rights, our common home that we have to safeguard against challenges and leave even stronger for the generations to come.

Gojkovic stressed that the old pledge to the core values of the Council of Europe, parliamentarism being one of the most important among them, needs to be renewed. “It is essential to explain to the people, especially young people, that the parliaments are their institutions, instruments in their hands to solve the most important issues in the society”, said Gojkovic.

The Serbian Assembly Speaker said that the parliaments need to be determined and active to make sure that young people and others are not misled by extremist ideologies such as racism, xenophobia and the accompanying intolerance.

“Only with the values at the core of our civilization can we build a community of prosperity and well-being for the future of our nations”, said Gojkovic.

The Conference in Strasbourg is attended by over 40 heads of parliament and their deputies, as well as heads of international parliamentary organizations.

The Head of the Serbian Assembly’s standing delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Aleksandra Tomic is also part of the National Assembly delegation.