First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic met today in Berlin with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Main topics of their talks included bilateral relations, negotiating process concerning Serbia's EU membership, Serbian OSCE chairmanship, and the Western Balkans Conference, which is to take place in Berlin, on 28 August 2014, convened at the initiative of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

At a joint press conference following the meeting, Minister Steinmeier said that the reforms implemented in Serbia so far were impressive. The German Foreign Minister gave Serbia credit for all its efforts aimed at developing good-neighbourly relations in the region, adding that Germany had watched with great attention the long transformation of both the society and the state that had made possible the advancement of relations with the Western Balkan countries. Touching on the Conference on the Western Balkans, German Minister Steinmeier said that it would be an opportunity for the countries from the region not only to present the results achieved so far, but to exchange views on possible future cooperation.

Minister Dacic welcomed the initiative to hold the Conference on the Western Balkans, whose success was guaranteed by the fact that it had a very serious sponsor in Germany. The European integration of the region will feature as one of the topics of the Conference, the Minister said, and conveyed his gratitude to Germany for the support it had provided for Serbia throughout the process. Mr. Dacic said that Germany could count on Serbia as a partner in the Western Balkans, and as an actor in problem resolution.

The Serbian Foreign Minister expressed his pleasure over his first visit to Germany following his assumption of duties, and used the occasion to extend an invitation to his German counterpart to visit Belgrade. Relations with Germany are of vital importance to Serbia, which will diligently and devotedly work to establish the best possible relations and close cooperation. Pointing out the importance of Germany as Serbia's chief trading partner, the Serbian Foreign Minister stated that the level of the political dialogue should be adequate, and expressed his interest that the level of the political dialogue be raised, not only at the federal, but also at the provincial level.

The two Ministers agreed that the forthcoming OSCE chairmanship was a significant task ahead of Serbia, and Minister Dacic assessed that Serbia would know how to take the opportunity given, in order to prove that it was a serious and reliable partner at the international political stage.

During the visit, Minister Dacic will talk with German Bundestag members Peter Beyer (CDU) and Axel Schäfer (SPD), and Christoph Heusgen, German Chancellor's Adviser on foreign policy and security.

Press conference following the meeting between Minister Dacic and Minister Steinmeier

 

Minister Dacic's statement at the press conference following the meeting with Minister Steinmeier

 

Minister Dacic answers a question at the press conference following the meeting with Minister Steinmeier