Djuric: Serbian delegation accomplished all three objectives at Manila ASEAN conference

MANILA - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Friday a Serbian delegation at an ASEAN conference in Manila had accomplished all of its three objectives, including a confirmation of support by several Southeast Asian countries for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia.

Speaking to reporters, Djuric said the delegation had also had substantive discussions about EXPO 2027 participation by several countries from the Southeast Asian region.

"At bilateral level, which is the third but no less important task, we succeeded in having quality discussions and meetings with several influential and large countries in the region. I would like to point out that, by saying ' the region', I am really referring to the wider region, since we also had good bilateral meetings with Chilean representatives, as well as with a representative of East Timor," Djuric said, noting that the meeting with an East Timor minister had been the first-ever in the history of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Djuric added that he had also met with numerous European FMs and other officials from Europe, including the FMs of Sweden, Lithuania and Poland and EU foreign policy and security chief Kaja Kallas.

He said the ministerial summit had addressed challenges facing the entire world, as well as ways to deal with a simultaneous economic crisis sparked by the Middle East conflict and changes in the global order, the rise of artificial intelligence and rivalries amongst big powers.

"In all that, Serbia is looking for a place for itself, based on the principles of the UN Charter, while safeguarding our national interests and our borders. By safeguarding the UN Charter, we are also safeguarding the national interests and some universal principles at the same time," Djuric said.

"It is very important that, when it comes to cooperation, its economic development and the future, Serbia is not looking strictly to its immediate neighbourhood, but continues to pursue a balanced, far-reaching and well-thought-out foreign policy that is seeking to establish an international position for it based on cooperation with the countries of the future," he said.

"Here in Southeast Asia, there is a large number of countries we can rightly call countries of the future," the minister said.

He noted that Serbia's multi-vector approach could only strengthen its position in that part of the world, as well as become a comparative advantage in Europe.

"Regardless of the topic, which differs from the topics we are dealing with in our region, our presence here is good for Serbia in Europe due to the historical capital Serbia also has thanks to the Non-Aligned Movement. On the other hand, I think it is important that, in an address in the plenary part of the meeting, we had an opportunity to underline the topics that are significant to us, such as Kosovo-Metohija, such as the EXPO, such our desire to support international public law and cooperation based on equality," Djuric said.

As part of the ASEAN conference, he also held bilateral meetings with the FMs of the Philippines and Chile, Teresa Lazaro and Francisco Perez Mackenna, to discuss deepening of cooperation, among other topics.

He thanked their countries for respecting Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty and invited them to take part in EXPO 2027 Belgrade.