Selaković: Strategic partnership between Serbia and Azerbaijan based on mutual understanding

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, began his three-day visit to Azerbaijan with a meeting with President of that country, Ilham Aliyev.

After the meeting, Minister Selaković stated that the talks confirmed the excellent relations between the two countries bound by the Strategic Partnership Agreement, but also by mutual understanding and mutual commitment to the values of the international legal order, and mutual support for territorial integrity and sovereignty. In that sense, the head of Serbian diplomacy especially underlined his gratitude to Azerbaijan for its clear position on non-recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of the so-called Kosovo and the support it provides us in international organizations.

The Minister pointed out that the improvement of economic cooperation was discussed with the President of Azerbaijan, as well as cooperation in numerous areas such as: agriculture, construction, transport, energy, sports, education and health.

On this occasion, Selaković also informed President Aliyev about the results of numerous reforms that have been implemented in Serbia since 2014, with a special emphasis on the economic results that Serbia has achieved.

The head of Serbian diplomacy emphasized that he talked with President Aliyev today about his bilateral visit to Serbia, which will be on 10 October, one day before the opening of the high-level gathering of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade. The Minister said that the visit was of great importance, since it was the first visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Serbia since 2011.

Selaković pointed out that we highly appreciate the fact that the Azerbaijani side, as the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, had understanding and supported our initiative to jointly mark the 60th anniversary of the First Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement and to organize a gathering in Belgrade on 11 and 12 October. He underlined that it is of special importance for Serbia that the gathering will be held in Belgrade, having in mind the historical symbolism of our capital as a kind of "birthplace" of the Movement.

Selaković said that he also talked with President Aliyev about the numerous meetings he will have during his visit to Baku, about the sixth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Economic Cooperation, as well as about the business forum that will be held on Tuesday.