First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic is staying in Venezuela, where he is participating in the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement.

"The first part of the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement has ended. It was nice to hear that almost every statement made mention of the first NAM conference, which took place in Belgrade. What is interesting is that the video wall in the hall where the conference is being held, screened, among other leaders of the Movement, the image of Josip Broz Tito, one of the founding fathers of the Non-Aligned Movement.

The first part of the conference held at the Ministerial level is completed, the aim being the preparation for the arrival of Heads of State and/or Government. Hence, to ensue in the coming two days is the continuation of the Summit at the level of Heads of State and/or Government.

I took this opportunity to discuss the topical issues with my counterparts, Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Serbia has the observer status in the NAM, and we are interested in bilateral relations, the issue of Kosovo being the matter of our particular interest.

Our presence here is important, for Venezuela, as a host, has not recognized Kosovo: the very fact means that the so-called Kosovo authorities were barred from sending their delegation to the Summit.

Over the past years, Serbia was regularly absent, while representatives of Pristina were present and they were lobbying, as recently happened in Guyana, when they were lobbying among the Caribbean countries.

I met numerous colleagues. I talked to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the host country, to Foreign Ministers of Iran, Palestine, Ecuador, Azerbaijan. Today, I talked to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Burundi and Cameroon.

In all these meetings, I underscored our bilateral relations and the need for cooperation and friendship. I was, by all means, interested in the positions of these countries regarding Kosovo and Metohija, for this is our vital, national interest. I am very satisfied with the talks and the results thereof, too. I expect to have this kind of talks with Presidents and Prime Ministers over the next two days.

Serbia has the observer status in the Organization. The Non-Aligned Movement is one of the largest international movements bringing together 120 member states and 17 observers. For Serbia, the Non-Aligned Movement is very important, since out of 86 countries that have not recognized Kosovo, 61 are in the NAM, and therefore, this is of cardinal importance to us", Minister Dacic said.