First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic is on a visit to the Republic of Tajikistan.

During the first day of his visit, Minister Dacic had a meeting with President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sirodjidin Aslov.

After today’s meetings, the Serbian Foreign Minister expressed his satisfaction with the visit to Tajikistan and pointed out that the two countries had friendly relations that should develop to full potential in the future.

“I wish to express my pleasure to be here on a visit to Tajikistan. Bilaterally, Serbia and Tajikistan are two friendly countries having friendly relations that we want to improve, to exchange highest-level visits, to develop economic cooperation which is very small-scale at present. We think that there are plenty of opportunities for joint action and therefore expect mutual visits at the highest level to be realized in the future.”

Tomorrow, on the second day of his visit to this country, Minister Dacic as the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, will attend the meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Foreign Ministers’ Council. “

Maintaining political stability and peace in Central Asia is of great importance for the OSCE. This year I am going to visit all the countries of the region with the aim that the OSCE assists in the relaxation of the outstanding issues that exist among countries in Central Asia. We will try to define the topics of particular importance to this region, such as the issue of water management, energy security, but also the issue of border control, proximity to Afghanistan, the possibilities of criminal activities such as smuggling of narcotics and weapons, and terrorist threats posed by the so-called Islamic State.

The OSCE should be the partner to the countries of Central Asia to strengthen security and build democracy in these countries. The OSCE should not interfere with the internal political situation in these countries, but act from the position of a partner and work together with them“, said Minister Dacic