First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic visited Finland today, at the invitation of Finish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja.

Apart from his Finnish counterpart, Minister Dacic met with Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Eero Heinaluoma, as well as with President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Ilkka Kanerva.

At the press conference after the meeting, Minister Dacic pointed out that there were no disputed issues between Finland and Serbia, but that bilateral and economic relations were on a constant rise, keeping in mind several important investments of Finnish companies in Serbia.
He said that Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic is due to visit Finland in January 2015.

Minister Tuomioja said that he talked with the Serbian counterpart on Serbia's progress in the European integration process, which was stated by the European Commission in the Report released yesterday. The Serbian Foreign Minister thanked Finland for its support to Serbia on its European path.

Minister Dacic reiterated that EU membership was a strategic goal of Serbia.
"However, our policy of European integration is not in contradiction to the friendly relations existing with non-EU members who are our traditional friends", stressed Dacic, indicating that he thought not only of Russia, but also of China and a number of Asian, African, Latin American countries with whom Serbia has traditional friendly relations.
"That is why I believe that at the moment, when Serbia is going to chair the OSCE next year, this is our advantage because we have the credibility to be able to talk with due respect, both with Ukraine and Russia and all others where conflicts have arisen", said Dacic.

Recalling that Finland and the former Yugoslavia had played a very important role in the establishment of the OSCE and the formulation of principles of the Organization that are still pertinent, Dacic said:
"We need to look at the role of this Organization in the modern world and how it addresses conflicts. The crisis in Ukraine has shown that the OSCE remains the only international organization able to act on the ground, and which is present in Ukraine", said Minister Dacic.

Speaking of marking the anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, Minister Dacic said that Finland and Serbia would actively work together, and that it was most likely that alongside the OSCE PA, the OSCE Ministerial Council would also take place next year.

Tuomioja said that Finland would support Serbia in its efforts during its OSCE chairmanship to reach a negotiated peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine.

The Serbian Foreign Minister signed with his host Tuomioja the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Government of the Republic of Finland on the performance of gainful activities by family members of the staff of their diplomatic missions, consular posts and missions to international governmental organizations.

During his stay in Helsinki, Minister Dacic also participated in a seminar on the future of the OSCE and its role in the security architecture of Europe.