Djuric: Serbia, US to launch strategic dialogue this week

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Tuesday Washington had decided to launch strategic dialogue between the US and Serbia and that the first session of the dialogue was scheduled for Friday, July 17.

For the first time in history, Serbia and the US are raising their relations to the level of strategic partnership, Djuric told the RTS.

"That means that the US and President (Donald) Trump's administration are sending a strong message not only to Serbia, our administration and our people, but a strong message to US institutions that Serbia is perceived as a partner and a friendly country. It is something we have been working on for many years, something that is, in the professional sense, one of the more serious accomplishments of all our diplomats who have been fighting for this, as well as of the government and all of us in Serbia," he said.

He said that, at the invitation of US State Secretary Marco Rubio, he would travel to Washington later in the day and attend a summit on Thursday.

"But what will happen on Friday will go down in the history of Serbia-US relations, diplomatically and, I would say, politically as well. I think that, this way, the economy, the citizens and the international position and reputation of Serbia will be strengthened further," Djuric concluded.

Djuric: Serbia has met all commitments required for opening Cluster 3

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Tuesday Serbia had met all commitments required for opening Cluster 3 in its EU accession talks, and noted that, for years, the European Commission had been recommending opening the cluster.

"I am proud of the work and efforts invested by all our people in the administration, in our diplomatic service, in our mission and at the Ministry, and by all others who have engaged in the past months," Djuric told the RTS.

He added that the Serbian parliament had passed dozens of regulations with the aim of Cluster 3 being opened and that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had held a large number of meetings with European leaders in the past weeks.

Asked if he expected the cluster to be opened, Djuric responded:

"What we can say is that we have done everything that is up to us."