Djuric: Serbia's CEI presidency to set pace of regional cooperation

TIRANA - Serbian FM Marko Djuric, who is attending an annual meeting of Central European Initiative (CEI) FMs in Tirana, noted that Serbia's presidency over the organisation - which it assumed on Wednesday - would have a significant impact on topics to be discussed within regional frameworks.

"Today, Serbia assumed the presidency over the CEI. It is an important international organisation encouraging regional cooperation in the economy, politics, culture and youth exchange. As Serbia, we believe that encouraging economic cooperation is a vital national interest for us and that the backbone of our foreign policy is to create a safe and friendly environment for development and growth of our economy, for infrastructural connectivity and for resolving outstanding issues from the past," Djuric said in a statement released by the Serbian MFA.

The CEI presidency - an achievement of our diplomacy - creates a position for Serbia to set the pace of regional cooperation and have a significant influence on topics to be discussed within regional frameworks, Djuric said.

"At the same time, with our partners in the region, we will set the priorities of this presidency in a manner that will make us a true representative of the idea that countries in the region should stand together in difficult times," he noted.