First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic conferred today with the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Norway, Haakon Magnus.

Minister Dacic thanked Crown Prince Haakon for having accepted his invitation to visit Serbia, and emphasized that Norway had greatly aided the reform and democratization processes in Serbia, thus contributing to the achievement of Serbian foreign policy goals and its edging closer to the European Union.

The Serbian Foreign Minister particularly recalled the history of bilateral relations between the two countries, highlighting their alliance during the Second World War, and the fact that Norway had been one of the largest contributors of development assistance to Serbia over the past fifteen years. In value terms, grants approved so far by the Kingdom of Norway to Serbia exceed EUR 250 million.

The Republic of Serbia and the Kingdom of Norway have maintained intensive cooperation in numerous areas, ranging from defence and home affairs to cultural and economic cooperation.

Crown Prince Haakon and Minister Dacic have both voiced their hope that the two countries will continue to enhance their traditional friendship in the future as well.