First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic is on an official visit to the Republic of Burundi.

The Serbian Foreign Minister had meetings with Burundi's top officials. Minister Dacic had talks with President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza as well as with his counterpart, Minister of External Relations and International Cooperation, Alain Aimé Nyamitwe. The Minister also met with Evariste Ndayishimiye, General Secretary of the National Council for the Defence of Democracy–Forces for the Defence of Democracy, the ruling party in Burundi.

Minister Dacic emphasized that he was very pleased with his visit to the Republic of Burundi. In the talks, the historical friendship dating back to the period of the SFRY was underlined.

They ascertained that there were no obstacles to the further promotion of cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and particularly education.

The high officials of Burundi informed the Serbian Foreign Minister about the key internal policy goals of the incumbent Government of Burundi, particularly stressing the one of reaching national unity after a number of tumultuous decades.

"It is my great pleasure to be visiting Burundi. We are tied by a traditional friendship dating back to the times of Tito and the former Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia recognized Burundi in 1962. Serbia continues to pursue such a policy and wishes for its relations with Burundi to be as good as possible.

Today we signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of External Relations and International Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi, whereas preparations are underway for the signing of approximately ten more agreements.

Our two countries will assist one another and have a shared understanding concerning all the problems we are facing.

We will develop a plan of mutual cooperation to include political consultations as well as security, law enforcement and economic cooperation and scholarships for education of students.

I expect my colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to pay a visit to Serbia to be followed by a visit of the President of Burundi as well.

We are friends and we will support each other. I can only conclude that this was a highly successful visit", said Minister Dacic after the meetings he had with Burundi's top officials.