Djuric: Serbia-Israel-US partnership a partnership for the future

BELGRADE - The Serbia-Israel-US partnership is a partnership for the future, Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Tuesday, adding that there was strong political will in Serbia to develop the relations with Israel and the US.

The partnership between Serbia and the Jews has existed for centuries, Djuric said at a conference titled Belgrade Strategic Dialogue: Serbia–US–Israel Partnership, hosted by the Congress of Serbian-American Friendship in the National Assembly building.

"Serbia was the first state in the world to recognise the Balfour Declaration and the State of Israel's right to exist, in times when many big powers had the opposite or a different stance. The friendship and the partnership have stood the test of time," Djuric said.

In recent years, numerous top-level meetings between Serbian and Israeli officials have taken place, he said.

"President Aleksandar Vucic has hosted the Israeli president. Alongside President Vucic, I have taken part in meetings with the PM of the State of Israel. I have had the honour of representing Serbia at meetings in Jerusalem and during a visit to Israeli communities hit by the October 7 terrorist attacks. Now, we have also seen a visit (to Israel) by the (Serbian) parliament speaker," Djuric said.

Speaking about Serbia-US relations, he said a new chapter of cooperation was opening up and that a formal first session of a Serbia-US strategic dialogue was due to take place in the coming months to address all key areas of cooperation - modern technologies, the software industry, defence and energy.

Djuric also appealed for the release of Israeli-Serbian citizen Alon Ohel and others held captive by Hamas.

"It is time for all of them to return home," he noted.