First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic talked today on the phone with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio to whom he conveyed the expressions of deepest condolences following the huge toll on human life taken by the coronavirus pandemic in the Italian Republic.

The Minister underlined that as the whole world today was facing the horrific coronavirus pandemic, with Italy being affected more than any European country, he wished to convey to the friendly Italian people the expressions of sincere sympathies and solidarity as well as his belief that Italy would surmount this horrific health threat and use its expertise, experience and courage to overcome this difficult period, impacting also the Republic of Serbia and most of the planet.

Minister Dacic informed his collocutor that the Serbian Government, in a bid to halt the spread of coronavirus, had imposed a temporary ban on entry into Serbia applicable to citizens from certain countries including the Italian Republic, stressing that this measure should in no way whatsoever affect the excellent bilateral relations existing between the two countries, given also its provisional character.

Minister Luigi Di Maio expressed his thanks for the call and the solidarity of the Serbian people in this difficult time and expressed an understanding for the activities undertaken by governments in combating coronavirus, but also kindly called on finding an acceptable solution regarding the transport of goods from Italy as soon as possible.