First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic received today representatives of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors in Belgrade.

The meeting was attended by Ambassadors of Morocco, Egypt, France, Romania, Cyprus, Lebanon, Switzerland and Tunisia, the UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia, Head of the Belgrade Office of the Council of Europe, and by Chargés d'Affaires from the embassies of Canada, Belgium, DR Congo, Guinea, Poland and the Head of the French Institute in Belgrade.

Minister Dacic thanked the Ambassador for the support their countries extended to the Republic of Serbia and the promotion of its status from an observer to an associate member in the International Organization of La Francophonie at the 17th Francophonie Summit held on 11-12 October in Yerevan, Armenia.

The Minister voiced his pleasure over the fact that a Group of Francophone Ambassadors was established in Belgrade, as was the practice in many countries worldwide, and stressed that the establishment of this Group represented an important initiative, realizing that it was the interest of the Republic of Serbia, as an associate member in the Organization of La Francophonie, to solidify its position and advocate the values of the Organization in the field of the promotion of linguistic and cultural diversity, usage of the French language and the strengthening of peace, democracy and human rights.

Mr. Amine Belhaj, Ambassador of Morocco in Belgrade and Head of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors expressed congratulations, on behalf of the Group, to First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic for the promotion of the Republic of Serbia's status in the International Organization of La Francophonie. He informed that the Group, comprising 17 Ambassadors so far, had been established on 28 June this year, hoping that a successful cooperation with the Republic of Serbia would be carried out in this format.

The Serbian Foreign Minister expressed his readiness to follow up on this inaugural meeting and maintain regular contacts and cooperation with the Group of Francophone Ambassadors in Serbia.