Serbia and Belarus would make serious efforts to enhance their bilateral relations, since there was a lot of room for mutual links and improvement of economic cooperation, Foreign Ministers of the two countries Ivan Mrkic and Vladimir Makey agreed in Belgrade today.

The frequency of meetings between Serbian and Belarus officials spoke of "our intentions to get to know each other better and share the good and bad times together, like it used to be in our respective histories ", said Mrkic at the joint news conference after the meeting with Makey.

Minister Mrkic also said that Serbia highly appreciated the fact that Belarus supported Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and was thankful for this support. Official Minsk does not recognize Kosovo's independence.
Serbia and Belarus had intensified their relations in recent time, said the Serbian Foreign Minister, recalling that Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic paid a visit to Minsk in March of this year, and that a lot happened in the meantime.
"We have decided to invest serious efforts to enhance out mutual cooperation and we consider that there is plenty, plenty of room for interaction, for increasing trade and entering into joint projects, production or market presence in third countries", Mrkic emphasized.

He said that he had really friendly talks with Makey, in which they had agreed on all bilateral issues and added that there would soon be more visits.
"We are two very close nations having a lot in common, and naturally we are going to be more strongly linked together in the future", concluded Mrkic adding that two new honorary consuls in Serbia would be appointed by Belarus.
Makey emphasized with satisfaction that the cooperation between the two countries was becoming ever more fruitful and meaningful when it comes to results.
"We consider Serbia our strategic partner in the Balkans ", underlined the Belarus Minister.

Adding that he talked with Mrkic about the roadmap for further cooperation as a follow-up to the directions that the two Heads of State gave in March, Makey underlined that it was extremely important to pass from the trade only level to the joint ventures level, which would mean creation of new jobs and an incentive for the economy of Serbia.
"This means expansion of existing and establishment of new companies, assembly lines in Serbia and a number of other things", explained Makey.
In his words, non-stop air flights between Serbia and Belarus were due to start in September.
Makey added that interregional cooperation was very important as well, remarking that six agreements had already been signed between the regions of Belarus and those of Serbia, and that this cooperation would be continued because it mattered for the two economies.

Pointing also to the significance of cultural cooperation, Makey announced that Serbian cultural days in Belarus had been planned for this year, and a similar event would be held in Serbia next year.
As regards international issues, Makey said that Belarus extended an unqualified support to Serbia in international organizations, including on issues related to sovereignty, integrity and the Kosovo issue.
This was the third meeting of Mrkic with Makey and the first official visit by a Belarus Foreign Minister in the last nineteen years.
Makey was on a two-day visit to Serbia during which he already met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, and would hold meetings also with Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and President of the National Assembly Nebojsa Stefanovic.
Furthermore, Makey will meet with Serbian business representatives and attend the ceremony of opening a consulate headed by an honorary consul in Novi Sad.

Mrkic and Makey meet

Mrkic about improvement of bilateral relations with Belarus

Makey about improvement of economic cooperation with Serbia and new joint ventures