| |     espanol | srpski  
Home
Minister Selakovic speaks for Politika: The year of rejuvenation of Serbian diplomacy

26 January 2021

Serbia's foreign policy positions are naturallybeing adjusted to the new developments at the international level, but our foreign policy priorities have not changed in a long time. Our top and most important interest is to preserve good-neighbourly relations and stability and peace in the region and, in the same context, to find a peaceful and just solution to the problems in Kosovo and Metohija, Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said in an interview with Politika daily.

Another lasting interest of ours is full membership of the European Union, because this is the type of society we strive for. At the bilateral level, our goal is to strengthen ties with traditional friends, the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, but also to build new partner relations with the United States. One of the most important tasks of our foreign policy is to improve the position and protect the rights and identity of our people in the region, as well as to provide various types of support to Serbs in the diaspora. All these are very important and more often than not complementary goals, Nikola Selakovic pointed out.


What kind of relations do you expect Serbia to have with the new U.S. administration?

It is too early to speculate about this in public. The new presidential administration in Washington is currently preoccupied with internal issues and this will be the case for some time. There are people in the team of President Joseph Biden who have dealt with our region, and it is likely that the Balkans and Serbia will be the focus of the U.S. foreign policy at some point. I will remind you that President Vucic and President Biden not so long ago had very substantive talks in Belgrade, after which our President stated that he had the opportunity to talk to someone extremely well acquainted with the situation in this part of the world and an extraordinarily prepared interlocutor. Taking their personal relationship into account, but also the importance of enhancing the ties between Serbia and the United States, we have reason to expect that a meeting between the two presidents will be organized in the foreseeable future. I am sure that the nature and dynamics of the relations between Serbia and the United States will be influenced by the fact that Ambassador Marko Djuric now represents us in Washington, whose presence at President Biden's inauguration ceremony is an important signal and, I believe, a harbinger of positive developments in bilateral relations between our two countries.

How would you describe our country's relations with Moscow, Brussels and Beijing?

Russia is our traditional friend and that friendship goes beyond merely political ties. These are deep spiritual, cultural and civilizational bonds, and it is only natural that we have a mutual interest in improving those ties, even though they are at a very high level. We have a relationship with the People's Republic of China whichis, in addition to the sincere iron-clad friendship between our peoples and high political representatives, based ondeep trust and mutual support. Full membership of the European Union is Serbia's strategic orientationthat all our friends are aware of, but our country does not forget its friendships, but strengthens and promotes them instead, and approaches all with honesty and no ulterior motives. In this context, we do not seek any preferential treatment, but only the right to freely and independently make decisions about our future and relations with all who respect us.

Could Serbia pursue a different foreign policy than the one it is pursuing at the moment?

It is always possible to have a different policy, just look at the foreign policy of Serbia ten, twenty or thirty years ago, examine the results at that time and you will realize how irretrievablyexpensive that policy turned out to be. Whether a policy is right, at eitherforeign or domestic level, is measured through its results and effect on the lives of citizens and the fate of the entire state.
Our foreign policy priorities are not being defined on a whim, but are instead the result of a serious and deep examination of our complex position and strategic thinking about ways to improve it. Today, Serbia has a better international reputation and credibility than two decades ago, and the main reason for that is that our results have shown how serious and responsible we are as a country. That kind of credibility is not achieved by trickery, but only by hard and well-thought-out work on oneself. And I need to emphasize on this occasion as well that the main inspiration for such an attitude towards politics, the state and its future comes fromnone other than President AleksandarVucic. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have the opportunity on a daily basis to see the level of appreciation and respect President Vucicenjoysbeyond the borders of our country.


When can we expect the vacantposts of Serbian ambassadors and consuls across the globe to be filled?

That is one of the main tasks for 2021. This will be a year of reinvigoration and I believe also rejuvenation of Serbian diplomacy. Our country, given its size, has a fairly extensive diplomatic network, which provides it with great opportunities for deepening political and economic relations with countries in all parts of the world. But we need more fresh and energetic staff, people whowill be the most honourablerepresentatives of a modern and dynamic Serbia. There are such people in Serbia, and we do need a serious rejuvenation, in order to avoid wide generation gapsin our personnel, and to lay the foundations of a modern career diplomacy.


How would you describe your relationship with Serbian President AleksandarVucic?

President Vucic and I are, in addition to having close and friendly relations, by virtue of the work we doand our constitutional competencies, the closest collaborators in the realization of Serbia's foreign policy goals. This allows me to talk to him often, and on many occasions learn a lot of new and important things. President Vucic is a man who inspires people around him with his strategic and visionary approach to politics, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to be part of his closest team of associates over the years, and to have had him as a kind of political mentor. In any case, his vision of Serbia as a modern, progressive and prosperous state, which independently and on its own will decides on its destiny, is my wish as well and key motivationfor political engagement. For only such Serbia is a country that its own citizens, as well as Serbs beyond our borders, can confidently rely on, while also being an inspiration to the entire region.

Source: Politika


Print version
News
Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selaković at the meeting of the UN Security Council on the report on the work of UNMIK
Serbia dedicated to enhancing cooperation with Guatemala
Belgrade to get Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution
UNESCO’s role extremely important for preservation of Serbian heritage in Kosovo and Metohija
Address of the President of the Republic of Serbia at the United Nations climate change conference COP26 held in Glasgow
Selaković in UNSC: Dialogue and the implementation of the agreements reached are the only right way to resolve all open issues
Selaković in New York with 28 foreign ministers on economic successes of Serbia and K&M situation
Telephone conversation of President Vučić and General Secretary of NATO
Pristina seriously jeopardised regional stability
Prime Minister Brnabic at Global COVID-19 summit organised by White House
Marking the Remembrance Day of all Serbs who died and were expelled in the armed operation "Storm"
President Vučić: We have decided – our goal is the EU, but China is an important partner
Serbia has achieved great success in the field of digitalization
Selaković invited representatives of members of the NAM to gather in Belgrade in October
Expanding economic cooperation with Mexico
Address by the President of the Republic of Serbia at the session of the United Nations Security Council
Minister Selaković presented the new e-Consulate service
President Vučić met via video link with representatives of the IMF delegation
Meeting with the World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe
WHO describes immunisation process in Serbia as impressive
Selakovic: Pristina persists in its campaign of hatred against the Serbian people
Selakovic: Political extremism of Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija is becoming stronger
President Vucic received letters of credence from the newly-appointed Ambassador of the United Mexican States
Marking the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the NATO aggression
Commemorating Remembrance Day of 17 March 2004 - Pogrom in Kosovo and Metohija
Selakovic: Fight against all forms of crime is a priority of the Serbian Government
Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb and Ljubljana elected as the new Patriarch of Serbia
February 15 - The Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia
President Vucic: Serbia is ready for dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija, but will refuse being humiliated
Minister Selakovic speaks for Politika: The year of rejuvenation of Serbian diplomacy
President Vucic: Serbia is the first in Europe in terms of growth
Minister Selakovic: New ambassadors will be appointed this year, but the goals remain the same
President Vucic: Serbia to remain on the course of a winning policy of stability
Serbian Prime Minister the first PM in Europe to receive a Covid-19 vaccine
STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Zoran Djindjic, memorial
Invitatation to tender
Why Kosovo is ineliglibe for membership in UNESKO?
Donations for humanitarian assistance through PayPal
Natural disasters in the Republic of Serbia
Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic meets Foreign Minister of Nicaragua Samuel Santos Lopez
Amb. Goran Mesic meets with the Director of the National Museum of Mexican Culture Carlos Vasquez Olvera
INTERNATIONAL CALLIGRAPHY EXHIBITION
INTERNATIONAL CALLIPGRAPHY EXHIBITION
Stabilization and Association Agreement between Serbia and EU entered into force on 1 September
Participation by representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the course on Mexican foreign policy at the "Matias Romero" Institute
Mexico: Ana Bajic wins bronze
Participation by a representative of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Sixth Spanish language course for foreign diplomats in Mexico City
EU: Opening negotiations with Serbia
Publication of a book of Serbian folk stories and fairy tales in Mexico
Distance learning of Serbian language
Serbian Assistant Foreign Minister Miomir Udovicki visits Mexico
Bishop Maxim visits Mexico
Traditional easter meeting at the serbian Embassy in Mexico
Lecture on Serbia at TEC Monterrey, Campus Norte
Spanish translation of Vasko Popa’s poems published in Mexico
Press statement – 9th anniversary of the pogrom against Serbs in Kosovo and Metohia
Information on the celebration of 17 centuries of the proclamation of the Edict of Milan in the Republic of Serbia
Doctoral student Filip Brkovic visits ITAM
Recepcion at the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in honour of serbian conductor Mr. Srboljub Dinic
News - Archive