First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic received today a courtesy call from Italian Ambassador to Belgrade Carlo Lo Cascio and the Italian delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation visiting Serbia to attend the bilateral political consultations between the two Ministries.

The two sides discussed the forthcoming visit of Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio to Belgrade, which will take place on 10 February 2020.

The two collocutors noted that the visit of the Italian Minister was very important, both for the further development of bilateral relations and cooperation in all fields of mutual interest and for the continued support of Italy to the European integration of the Republic of Serbia and the region.
Prior to the meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia hosted the second round of bilateral political consultations with Italy. The delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Economic Cooperation of Italy was headed by Director-General for the European Union Vincenzo Celeste while on our part the talks were conducted by Acting Assistant Minister for Bilateral Affairs, Ambassador Tatjana Conic and Acting Assistant Minister for the European Union Ambassador Dejan Ralevic.

During two separate sessions, delegations exchanged views on the process of European integration of Serbia and the region as well as on cooperation within regional initiatives. The importance of the continued support of the Republic of Italy to Serbia's EU integration path was particularly emphasized. With regard to bilateral issues, a high level of bilateral relations was reasserted and a high frequency of the exchange of top-level visits highlighted as well as cooperation in the field of economy. It was agreed that a third round of political consultations be held in Rome in the coming period.