First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic met today with Foreign Minister of the Italian Republic Enzo Milanesi, in the margins of the Central European Initiative (CEI) Meeting of Foreign Ministers, held in Trieste.

In the cordial talks, the two collocutors noted that the political relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Italian Republic were stable and on the high level of development. The shared interest to intensify political dialogue in the coming period was reasserted, through high-level bilateral visits as well as by finding common interests in areas such as strengthening regional cooperation, infrastructure connectivity, European integration and security.
Both Ministers confirmed the continuation of political dialogue and intensification of economic cooperation in the period ahead. Minister Dacic emphasized that this year marked 140 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations and ten years of strategic partnership between the two countries. He thanked for the continued and unequivocal support of Italy, which is also the advocate of the enlargement of the European Union, in the process of European integration of Serbia and the Western Balkan region. Minister Dacic reiterated Serbia's interest in further improving economic cooperation with Italy, as one of the most developed areas of the overall relations between the two countries.

The Head of Serbian diplomacy informed Minister Milanesi of the current situation in the region and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, stressing that Serbia was committed to dialogue in spite of unreasonable moves made by Pristina.

Minister Milanesi expressed satisfaction with the overall high level bilateral cooperation with Serbia void of any outstanding issues. In addition to regular exchange of views on topics of mutual interest, he underlined, in particular, the bilateral economic relations, noting that Italian companies continued to show interest in investing in Serbia.

Minister Milanesi accepted an invitation by Minister Dacic to visit Serbia shortly.