Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic received today Ivan Scalfarotto, the Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Minister Selakovic on this occasion expressed gratitude for the firm support Italy extended to Serbia along its European integration path.

Undersecretary of State Scalfarotto said that he deeply appreciated the support and assistance that Serbia and President Aleksandar Vucic provided in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, stressing that Serbia was a highly important state and a bilateral partner to Italy.

The Serbian Foreign Minister and Undersecretary of State Scalfarotto exchanged views on the current bilateral and regional cooperation, on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and cooperation in the context of Serbia's European integration process.

Minister Selakovic underlined that, even amid the Covid-19 pandemic situation, a high level of political dialogue was maintained, while demonstrating solidarity and strong friendship between the two peoples. The Minister affirmed the readiness of the new Government of the Republic of Serbia, as a government of political and economic continuity, to continue the dialogue with Italy in the period ahead and intensify it further in a number of areas of common interest.

The Minister underlined the importance that Serbia attached to the strategic cooperation framework and the holding of the fourth joint session of the two Governments in Belgrade this year.

Furthermore, Minister Selakovic took the opportunity to express gratitude over the fact that Italian soldiers, as part of KFOR personnel, were protecting Serbian holy sites in Kosovo and Metohija.

Undersecretary of State Scalfarotto conveyed to the Serbian Foreign Minister an official invitation extended by the Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio for a visit to Rome later this year.

Undersecretary of State Scalfarotto underlined that Italy had an interest to continue and intensify its successful bilateral cooperation with Serbia, and to lend further support along its European path. He stressed that Italy recognized and appreciated the efforts Serbia made in the context of regional cooperation and good-neighbourly relations, particularly through the "mini-Schengen" initiative. He expressed Italy's readiness to contribute to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue towards a compromise solution, thus contributing to peace, security and prosperity in the Western Balkan region.