First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic talked today with First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajčák.

For Serbia, Slovakia had always been a partner of special importance, underscored Minister Dacic, expressing his pleasure over the fact that it was Mr. Miroslav Lajčák to pay the first visit to him after he had assumed the office of Foreign Minister:

"Our relations, based on traditional close ties and friendship, have been very good, and cooperation at all levels is highly developed. An intensive political dialogue maintained between our two countries' senior officials gives a further impetus to our generally well-developed relations", Minister Dacic said, adding that there were no open issues in cooperation between the two countries:

"We appreciate the Slovakian principled position concerning non-recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. Serbia is firmly committed to seeking a durable and just solution that all parties would find acceptable, both through dialogue, and by means of making unavoidable compromise. Slovakia supports such Serbian approach", Minister Dacic said.

Slovak Foreign Minister Lajčák stated that Serbia's reputation in Europe had been substantially improved thanks to the Government and institutions, and that it was now the time for the citizens to feel it, and that the economic reforms and European integration were the only path to achieve that.

"The general election has confirmed that the citizens support such a direction", Lajčák said after the meeting with Dacic.

The two Ministers exchanged views on the most topical issues concerning bilateral relations, strengthening of economic cooperation, the support the Slovak Republic had lent in the Serbian EU membership negotiation process, cooperation in areas of mutual interest in regional initiatives, and the situation in the region.

Both sides pointed out the importance of further strengthening cooperation between Serbia and Slovakia within numerous regional initiatives which contribute to the deepening of relations and to their promotion.

"We are very grateful that the Slovak Republic strongly and continuously supports the enlargement of the Union to encompass the Western Balkan countries. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was the first official of an EU Member State to visit Serbia immediately after the decision to open Serbia's EU membership negotiations, in January 2014", Minister Dacic pointed out.