Serbia and Denmark aimed to expand bilateral relations through more economic cooperation, foreign ministers of the two countries told a press conference after their meeting here on Tuesday.
They, however, highlighted differing views over the status of Serbia’s southern province of Kosovo and Metohija. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia rejects it and considers Kosovo its own province.
Serbian foreign minister Ivica Dacic said that “it is important to intensify the political dialogue” not only between foreign ministries, but other parts of the governments.
Dacic said the two countries can improve bilateral ties despite Danish recognition of the unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo.
For his part, Danish foreign minister Anders Samuelsen expressed his support for Serbia’s European integration process, as well as its developing cooperation with the Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Samuelsen said that Denmark “encourages the implementation of reforms in Serbia”, stressing they must continue because “a progress is needed in the areas of rule of law, media freedom as well as in harmonization of Serbia’s foreign policy with the EU”.
He encouraged the continuation of the dialogue between Serbia and its southern province, stressing that “it must be constructive and lead towards a legally-binding agreement”.
Samuelsen also met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, discussing bilateral relations, economic ties, progress on Serbia’s European Union (EU) accession path, as well as the overall situation in the region.
According to a statement released by the president’s cabinet, Vucic expressed hope that “progress on the European path will also be reflected through the greater confidence of Danish investors in investing in the Serbian economy”, Xinhua reports.
(Photo: thenational)
