Djuric: Serbia, Israel have national interest in advancing their relations

JERUSALEM - Like-minded countries like Serbia and Israel have a national interest in advancing their relations, Serbian FM Marko Djuric said in Jerusalem on Tuesday, noting that he was very proud strategic dialogue had been launched between the two countries as a result of work by their teams over the past year.

"Today's discussions have been centred on a number of topics, including advancing our economic cooperation," Djuric said at a press conference with Israeli FM Gideon Sa'ar.

"There will be an agreement, a free trade agreement, which will open widely the doors to Serbian and Israeli companies. We are grateful to Israel for participating in EXPO 2027 in Belgrade, which is very important for us, and I believe that, in many other spheres, our countries are beginning to stand shoulder to shoulder more and more. When I was planning my trip here, (Serbian) President (Aleksandar) Vucic told me that this is by far the most important task for me at the moment, and I believe that we were able today to accomplish a deepening of trust and deepening of cooperation to the benefit of both of our nations, so I thank you for that," Djuric said.

"In an ever-changing world in which we are faced with unprecedented challenges, in a single generation we have an equivalent to the invention of the printing press or to the industrial revolution, meaning, in our case, the rise of artificial intelligence, and, frankly speaking, practically a breakdown in the existing global order," he said.

Djuric said he had taken the opportunity to inform his host of the current situation in the Western Balkans, as well as of the plight of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, "where the rights of the Serbs have been diminished over the past three and a half years."
"But I also informed him of the fact that Serbia is the pillar of stability in our region, which approaches all global and regional issues with the aim to foster stability, respect for international public law, stabilisation, and, in general, a sense of normalcy in this increasingly crazy world," he said.

"With this type of mentality, both Serbia and Israel stand to accomplish a lot, and once again I thank you for your friendship, for our wonderful cooperation," Djuric told Sa'ar, adding that he looked forward to welcoming him in Belgrade.

"I am very, very happy and delighted to have the opportunity to pay a visit to the State of Israel for a second time in my capacity as the foreign minister of Serbia. This reflects a deep relationship that exists between our two nations, and Serbia is proud of the fact that we were the first nation in 1917 to sign up to the Balfour Declaration and to recognise Israel's right to exist, and then we were among the first countries to recognise the independence of Israel, and we stood with each other in times good and bad," he also said, noting that Serbs and Jews had been subject to "the same persecution or similar persecution by various totalitarian ideologies."

Sa'ar: Strategic dialogue reflects close relations between Israel, Serbia

JERUSALEM - Israeli FM Gideon Sa'ar said on Tuesday strategic dialogue held for the first time in Israel-Serbia relations reflected a close relationship and a deep bond between the two countries.

"Our relations with Serbia have historic depth. They are backed by the friendship between our nations. They have withstood the test of challenging times," Sa'ar said at a press conference with Serbian FM Marko Djuric.

"Under the leadership of (Serbian) President (Aleksandar) Vucic, Serbia has been a reliable ally and a true friend. We appreciate Serbia's strong support since October 7, 2023 and during the last war. Relations between our nations go way back. The Jewish community of Serbia is an ancient one. Unfortunately, it was brutally wiped out during the Holocaust. Jews and Serbs were both victims of the Nazis. The partisans fought bravely against the Nazis. They reflect the incredible Serbian spirit, proud and bold," he said.

"During the last decades, our states have built close relations. Yet, over the past year, these relations entered a new phase. And I thank you, Marko, because both of us took this mission upon ourselves.

We are negotiating a Free Trade Agreement. Our joint economic committee will soon meet. We will soon send permanent economic representation to Belgrade," Sa'ar said, noting that his country looked forward to participating in EXPO 2027 Belgrade.

"Serbia is a strategic partner in the Western Balkans, and an important partner in Europe. This year, I set the strengthening of our ties with the Western Balkans as one of the Foreign Ministry's goals. The Western Balkans are a close region, close geographically, with close friends of Israel. Stability in the Western Balkans is of the utmost importance. I've said in the past that Israel continues to support the implementation of the Dayton Accords, a key to a prosperous and stable region, respecting each group's rights. Safeguarding the rights of ethnic Serbs and Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina is critical for regional stability," he said. 

Sa'ar also said the "Iranian regime and its terror proxy in Lebanon, Hezbollah," posed a threat to Israel.

"The remarkable and troubling fact is that Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into an Iranian war against its own interests. It did so after dragging Lebanon into Hamas' Gaza War on October 8, 2023. They did it again now. Hezbollah fired some 10,000 missiles, rockets and drones at Israel since March 2," he said.

"Thank you for your role in the efforts to bring your cousin, Alon Ohel, back home, along with the other hostages that Hamas held in cruel captivity," Sa'ar told Djuric.