Djuric: 2024 a year of important anniversary, Serbian-Italian friendship

ROME - Serbian FM Marko Djuric met with the chairwoman of the foreign affairs and defence committee of the Italian Senate Stefania Craxi in Rome on Wednesday.

In the year in which we mark two major anniversaries - 145 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations and 15 years of a strategic partnership between Serbia and Italy - we also mark the many centuries of friendship between Serbs and Italians, Djuric said.

Speaking about the priorities of the Serbian government, Djuric pointed out it would continue to carry out an agenda focusing on further strengthening of the national economy, with a firm commitment to full EU membership, the Serbian MFA said in a statement.

Djuric said Serbia would by end-2027 complete all economic, political and legislative reforms necessary for its accession to the European family of nations and thus give more strength, and a dependable partner, to the EU.

Djuric informed Craxi of the ways in which the human and collective rights of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija were being jeopardised.

He noted that support from Italy and other EU member states was necessary to achieve implementation of agreements reached to date in the process of stabilisation of Belgrade-Pristina relations.

In a discussion about regional and global political challenges, Djuric reiterated Serbia's position as an international partner and a pillar of stability and peace Italy can count on, the statement said.