First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic received today Acting Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Ivan Korcok.

In the cordial talks, both sides assessed the two countries' bilateral relations as traditionally good and friendly. The officials emphasized that they were pleased with the intensified and continuous political dialogue carried out at all levels, expressing an interest for further deepening of all forms of bilateral and, in particular, economic cooperation.

Minister Dacic expressed his gratitude for the continued support of the Slovak Republic to the European integration of the Republic of Serbia, conveying his expectation that this support would continue to be extended in the future as well. He underlined that Serbia had a particularly high appreciation of the principled support of Slovakia to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia, and to finding a durable solution for the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, acceptable to both sides.

Mr. Korcok, the Slovak Acting Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, conveyed readiness of the Slovak Republic to further develop an intensified communication and cooperation with the Republic of Serbia in all areas. Minister Korcok was particularly supportive of the intensification of economic cooperation as well as an increased presence of Slovak companies on the Serbian market. He expressed pleasure over the position of and treatment enjoyed by persons belonging to the Slovak national minority in the Republic of Serbia, relaying his expectation that such quality of the approach towards this community would be maintained in the future.

Minister Dacic expressed his belief that this year's marking of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, dating back to as early as the time of the former Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the former Czechoslovakia, and today being evidenced in the very good bilateral relations without open issues, would provide an added impetus to the deepening of our relations.