| |     ћирилица | latinica  
Home
Minister Selakovic speaks for Politika: The year of rejuvenation of Serbian diplomacy

Serbia's foreign policy positions are naturally being adjusted to the new developments at the international level, but our foreign policy priorities have not changed in a long time. Our top and most important interest is to preserve good-neighbourly relations and stability and peace in the region and, in the same context, to find a peaceful and just solution to the problems in Kosovo and Metohija, Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said in an interview with Politika daily.

Another lasting interest of ours is full membership of the European Union, because this is the type of society we strive for. At the bilateral level, our goal is to strengthen ties with traditional friends, the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, but also to build new partner relations with the United States. One of the most important tasks of our foreign policy is to improve the position and protect the rights and identity of our people in the region, as well as to provide various types of support to Serbs in the diaspora. All these are very important and more often than not complementary goals, Nikola Selakovic pointed out.


What kind of relations do you expect Serbia to have with the new U.S. administration?

It is too early to speculate about this in public. The new presidential administration in Washington is currently preoccupied with internal issues and this will be the case for some time. There are people in the team of President Joseph Biden who have dealt with our region, and it is likely that the Balkans and Serbia will be the focus of the U.S. foreign policy at some point. I will remind you that President Vucic and President Biden not so long ago had very substantive talks in Belgrade, after which our President stated that he had the opportunity to talk to someone extremely well acquainted with the situation in this part of the world and an extraordinarily prepared interlocutor. Taking their personal relationship into account, but also the importance of enhancing the ties between Serbia and the United States, we have reason to expect that a meeting between the two presidents will be organized in the foreseeable future. I am sure that the nature and dynamics of the relations between Serbia and the United States will be influenced by the fact that Ambassador Marko Djuric now represents us in Washington, whose presence at President Biden's inauguration ceremony is an important signal and, I believe, a harbinger of positive developments in bilateral relations between our two countries.

How would you describe our country's relations with Moscow, Brussels and Beijing?

Russia is our traditional friend and that friendship goes beyond merely political ties. These are deep spiritual, cultural and civilizational bonds, and it is only natural that we have a mutual interest in improving those ties, even though they are at a very high level. We have a relationship with the People's Republic of China which is, in addition to the sincere iron-clad friendship between our peoples and high political representatives, based on deep trust and mutual support. Full membership of the European Union is Serbia's strategic orientation that all our friends are aware of, but our country does not forget its friendships, but strengthens and promotes them instead, and approaches all with honesty and no ulterior motives. In this context, we do not seek any preferential treatment, but only the right to freely and independently make decisions about our future and relations with all who respect us.

Could Serbia pursue a different foreign policy than the one it is pursuing at the moment?

It is always possible to have a different policy, just look at the foreign policy of Serbia ten, twenty or thirty years ago, examine the results at that time and you will realize how irretrievably expensive that policy turned out to be. Whether a policy is right, at either foreign or domestic level, is measured through its results and effect on the lives of citizens and the fate of the entire state.
Our foreign policy priorities are not being defined on a whim, but are instead the result of a serious and deep examination of our complex position and strategic thinking about ways to improve it. Today, Serbia has a better international reputation and credibility than two decades ago, and the main reason for that is that our results have shown how serious and responsible we are as a country. That kind of credibility is not achieved by trickery, but only by hard and well-thought-out work on oneself. And I need to emphasize on this occasion as well that the main inspiration for such an attitude towards politics, the state and its future comes from none other than President Aleksandar Vucic. As Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have the opportunity on a daily basis to see the level of appreciation and respect President Vucic enjoys beyond the borders of our country.


When can we expect the vacant posts of Serbian ambassadors and consuls across the globe to be filled?

That is one of the main tasks for 2021. This will be a year of reinvigoration and I believe also rejuvenation of Serbian diplomacy. Our country, given its size, has a fairly extensive diplomatic network, which provides it with great opportunities for deepening political and economic relations with countries in all parts of the world. But we need more fresh and energetic staff, people who will be the most honourable representatives of a modern and dynamic Serbia. There are such people in Serbia, and we do need a serious rejuvenation, in order to avoid wide generation gaps in our personnel, and to lay the foundations of a modern career diplomacy.


How would you describe your relationship with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic?

President Vucic and I are, in addition to having close and friendly relations, by virtue of the work we do and our constitutional competencies, the closest collaborators in the realization of Serbia's foreign policy goals. This allows me to talk to him often, and on many occasions learn a lot of new and important things. President Vucic is a man who inspires people around him with his strategic and visionary approach to politics, and I am proud to have had the opportunity to be part of his closest team of associates over the years, and to have had him as a kind of political mentor. In any case, his vision of Serbia as a modern, progressive and prosperous state, which independently and on its own will decides on its destiny, is my wish as well and key motivation for political engagement. For only such Serbia is a country that its own citizens, as well as Serbs beyond our borders, can confidently rely on, while also being an inspiration to the entire region.

Source: Politika


Print version
News
Ottawa: Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia was solemnly celebrated
Competition for co-financing projects for the region and the diaspora in 2024
IMPORTANT - ELECTIONS 2023
IMPORTANT - ELECTIONS 2023
Book of Condolences
FEBRUARY 15 and 16, 2023, CELEBRATION OF THE PUBLIC HOLIDAY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA (Statehood Day)
Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selaković at the meeting of the UN Security Council on the report on the work of UNMIK
Selaković: Serbia is actively involved in combating terrorism, radicalism and extremism
Registration for voting at the RS Embassy on the occasion of the upcoming elections in the Republic of Serbia by March 12, 2022
Video of Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Serbia to mark Statehood Day 2022 - YouTube 2022 - YouTube
Belgrade to get Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution
Article: Osmani's NATO bid shouldn't be taken seriously by H.E. Dejan Ralevic, Ambassador
UNESCO’s role extremely important for preservation of Serbian heritage in Kosovo and Metohija
Address of the President of the Republic of Serbia at the United Nations climate change conference COP26 held in Glasgow
Selaković in UNSC: Dialogue and the implementation of the agreements reached are the only right way to resolve all open issues
Virtual concert - marking the 80th anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Belgrade and Ottawa (Serbia and Canada)
Prime Minister Brnabic at Global COVID-19 summit organised by White House
20.000.000 dinars were allocated for the establishment of new schools and classes of supplementary classes in the diaspora
September 15th - Celebrating the Day of Serbian unity, freedom and national flag
September 15th - Day of Serbian unity, Freedom and National flag
Campaign for the protection of property rights of Serbs in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Septemeber 9th, 2021.
Meeting with a special Canadian friends of Serbia
Interwiew of H.E. Dejan Ralevic, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Canada for Hill Times "Why do Serbs mourn while Croats celebrate?"
Nikola Tesla Day in Ontario - Part 1
Marquant le Jour du Souvenir de tous les Serbes morts et expulsés dans l'Opération « Tempête ».
Marking the Remembrance Day of all Serbs who died and were expelled in the armed operation "Storm"
President Vučić: We have decided – our goal is the EU, but China is an important partner
Serbia has achieved great success in the field of digitalization
Tesla Tales Across Time - Nikola Tesla's 165th birthday
In honor of Nikola Tesla's 165th birthday, we present a video that highlights some of his accomplishments.
There are conditions for faster development of economic cooperation between Serbia, Canada
Address by the President of the Republic of Serbia at the session of the United Nations Security Council
MIP Selaković potpisao protokol o saradnji sa Ossi - Organizacija srpskih studenata u inostranstvu
INFORMATION ON VACCINATION AGAINST CORONAVIRUS IN SERBIA
A platform for digitized competition intended to co-finance projects
Ambassador's message on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition on 80 years of diplomatic relations between Belgrade and Ottawa
Marked 80 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Canada
Serbia - Canada 80 years
80 years of diplomatic relations since its establishment until today in the Archives of Yugoslavia in Belgrade
Why invest in Serbia
Minister Selaković presented the new e-Consulate service
OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IN SERBIA
Why invest in Serbia, brochures of Development Agency of Serbia
INVEST IN SERBIA THE E-SECTOR
INFORMATION ON VACCINATION AGAINST CORONAVIRUS IN SERBIA
Vaccination of Serbian citizens from the diaspora on May 15. in Belgrade
INFORMATION ON VACCINATION AGAINST CORONAVIRUS IN SERBIA
INFORMATION ON VACCINATION AGAINST CORONAVIRUS IN SERBIA
President Vučić met via video link with representatives of the IMF delegation
Meeting with the World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe
WHO describes immunization process in Serbia as impressive
Selakovic: Pristina persists in its campaign of hatred against the Serbian people
Selakovic: Political extremism of Albanians in Kosovo and Metohija is becoming stronger
Sign up for the first online puppet show - Supermouse
Project “Serbian Kolo”
Selaković: Priština persiste à faire sa campagne de haine contre le peuple serbe
Selaković: L’extrémisme politique des Albanais au Kosovo et Metohija de plus en plus fort
On-line application for visa D
Marking the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the NATO aggression - 24 March, 2021
Commémoration du Jour du Souvenir des victimes de l'agression de l'OTAN
22nd anniversary of the beginning of the NATO aggression against Yugoslavia 24.3.-10.6.1999
La République de Serbie au Mois de la Francophonie
Selakovic: Fight against all forms of crime is a priority of the Serbian Government
Promotion of the Republic of Serbia as a favorable destination for business and investment
Happy International Mother Language Day
Metropolitan Porfirije of Zagreb and Ljubljana elected as the new Patriarch of Serbia
President Vučić receives credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador of Canada
Video message of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia on the occasion of the Statehood Day
Illumination of Niagara Falls in the colors of the Serbian tricolor - Serbian Statehood Day
Happy Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia!
President Vucic: Serbia is ready for dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija, but will refuse being humiliated
Minister Selakovic speaks for Politika: The year of rejuvenation of Serbian diplomacy
The competition for co-financing a project in the field of translating representative works of Serbian literature abroad in 2021
President Vucic: Serbia is the first in Europe in terms of growth
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia wishes you a Happy New Year
Every Serb in the diaspora is potentially a lobbyist
Minister Selakovic: New ambassadors will be appointed this year, but the goals remain the same
President Vucic: Serbia to remain on the course of a winning policy of stability
The Prime Minister of Serbia is the first European Prime Minister to receive the anti-covid vaccine Belgrade, December 24, 2020
STATEMENT BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
New anti-epidemic measures in force from 20 December
Online Toronto Serbian Film Festival December 17-27th, 2020
Tenth Media Conference of the Diaspora and Serbs in the Region on December 29, 2020. December 9, 2020
PRESS RELEASE OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Book of Condolences
Serbian Patriarch Irinej reposed in the Lord
Remembrance Day - Laying of the wreath
NEW MEASURES FOR PASSENGERS IN INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC WHEN ENTERING CANADA
SERBIA - Emerging tech development hub
Да не заборавимо! Lest we forget! Da ne zaboravimo!
DECISION on co-financing of projects for the Diaspora, July 8, 2020
ELECTIONS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT 2020
SERBIA OPENS BORDERS
SPECIAL RETURN FLIGHTS TO SERBIA
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
GOVERNMENT OF SERBIA: CONTACTS AND ACCOUNT NUMBERS FOR DONATIONS AND ASSISTANCE
INVITATION TO CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA WHO ARE HEALTHCARE PROFFESIONALS ABROAD
DIGITAL CONTENTS IN THE CULTURE AREA
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
CORONA VIRUS: RECOMMENDATION TO SERBIAN NATIONALS ABROAD
ELECTIONS IN SERBIA 2020
OPEN CALLS OF THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
COMPETITION FOR CO-FINANCING PROJECTS OF THE DIASPORA AND THE SERBS IN THE REGION
The decisions on co-financing projects of Diaspora and Regional Serbs
OPEN CALL for the Co-Financing of Projects for the Translation of Representative Works of Serbian Literature into Foreign Languages in 2019
Public lecture at Ottawa University by Prof. Dalibor Sokolović from University of Belgrade
Dedication of the plaque commemorating the Centennial of the end of World War I
Serbian-Canadian economic relations
VUCIC, BAIRD: SERBIA - CANADA RELATIONS GOOD
INVESTMENT PROTECTION AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH CANADA
Information concerning the Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of Serbia, which entered into force on December 1, 2014.
Document - Why Kosovo is ineligible for membership in UNESCO?
Letter form Serbian Heritage Museum
DACIC: SERBIA SUPPORTS OSCE EFFORTS IN UKRAINE
Exit fest
Guca festival - 3th - 9th, August 2015
News - Archive