First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic had talks today with the Director of Programmes and Strategic Development at the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Nita Deerpalsing and with the Director of the OIF Regional Office for Central and East European Countries, Reni Yotova.

In the conversation they positively assessed the ten-year cooperation maintained thus far between the Republic of Serbia and OIF, both at the political level and in the fields of education, culture and science.

The readiness of both sides to strengthen institutional ties in the function of Serbia's future membership in this Organization was noted.

OIF officials conveyed their full support and will to assist Serbia in becoming a full-fledged member and taking an active part in the OIF work and programmes, whether in key OIF bodies or in regional and other OIF programmes and activities at the international level.

Also, OIF officials conveyed the message of gratitude to Minister Dacic from OIF Secretary- General Michaëlle Jean for the participation at the Francophonie summit in Madagascar in 2016.

Minister Dacic extended an invitation to the OIF Secretary-General to visit Serbia in the coming period.

Earlier today, the Head of Serbian diplomacy opened a high-level seminar "Strengthening the institutional cooperation of the International Organization of La Francophonie with Serbia and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and francophone opportunities of Serbia" held in Belgrade in partnership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and IOF.