Foreign Minister Marko Djuric: Serbia recognizes Africa as strategic area of cooperation

Photo: MSP

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric spoke in Cotonou to express his great satisfaction that his visit to Benin is also the first visit by a head of Serbian diplomacy to this friendly country, stressing that Serbia is committed to deepening its partnership with African countries and strengthening its presence in western Africa.

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Djuric assessed that Serbia sees cooperation with African nations as one of its key development opportunities, bearing in mind that this continent has and will continue to have the highest economic and demographic growth in the world.

Those who takes a position in Africa in time, underlined Djuric, will secure the best partnerships for their scientists, factories and institutions.

He also said that Serbia strives to be a quality and equal partner that does not set political conditions, recalling the decades-long tradition of friendship, which dates back to the time Yugoslav President Tito and the Non-Aligned Movement.

He said that Serbia, under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vucic, recognizes the space on the African continent for achieving a comparative advantage in relation to other European countries, as well as for contributing to faster economic development. Djuric added that Belgrade is also seeking support in Benin for issues of key national importance, especially when it comes to Kosovo and Metohija, which will be one of the central topics in the talks with the hosts.

Djuric added he expects Benin will be among the 130 countries participating in EXPO 2027 in Belgrade, recalling that their delegation was already present at a preparatory meeting in the Serbian capital. He added that their participation would have a special value, bearing in mind the rich cultural and historical heritage of Benin, marked by courage and daring, as symbolized by the famous "Amazons" of that region.

Serbia continues to foster a policy of fighting against colonialism and conducts a multi-vector foreign policy, building relations with African countries based on equality and mutual respect, as it does with its partners in Europe and around the world, stressed the head of Serbian diplomacy.

Djuric concluded by saying that, together with the Serbian delegation, he held a series of important meetings with ministers of defense, culture and tourism of Benin, while talks are planned with the minister of sports, representatives of the Parliament and the top leadership of the country, as well as political consultations at the level of ministers of foreign affairs.

(Telegraf.rs)