Foreign Minister Selakovic speaks with the new ambassador of Ukraine

Photo: Tanjug/Milos Milivojevic

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selakovic today met with the new Ambassador of Ukraine, Volodymyr Tolkach.

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While welcoming him and wishing him a successful mandate in Serbia, Selakovic stressed that Serbia attaches great importance to development of overall relations with our friendly and traditionally close Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

The Minister underlined that our interest is to cooperate with Ukraine in all areas of common interest, which includes improvement and revitalization of political dialogue, as well as establishment of more efficient cooperation in strengthening trade and economic relations, when the situation allows.

Stating that the ambassador is taking office at a difficult time for Ukraine, the head of Serbian diplomacy expressed regret over the situation in that country and stressed that Serbia wants peace in Ukraine to happen as soon as possible, for refugees and IDPs to return to their homes, but also for Serbia and Ukraine continue to develop bilateral cooperation.

Selakovic reiterated that Serbia's principled commitment to peaceful settlement of disputes, and in that sense supports all efforts aimed at negotiations.

He also expressed readiness for Serbia to provide all kinds of humanitarian aid to the endangered population and participate in the reconstruction of cities in Ukraine, as well as to provide the best conditions for civilian refugees from that country, as well as allow them the right to residence and work permits, but also at a higher level.

The minister especially stressed that Serbia is committed to respecting the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, as one of the basic principles of international law contained in the United Nations Charter, and in that sense respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Selakovic also stated that Serbia is exposed to the unprincipled position of a part of the world when it comes to the unilaterally declared independence of so-called Kosovo, and thanked Ukraine for respecting the territorial integrity of Serbia.

(Telegraf.rs)