Need to raise the level of economic cooperation between Serbia and Azerbaijan

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Nikola Selakovic had talks today, via video link, with Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population of Azerbaijan Sahil Babayev, and the main topic of the meeting of the two co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation was the organization of the next session of this body.

Minister Selakovic pointed out that Serbia attached great importance to the work of the Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation and that it wished its results to be more tangible and to have a more significant impact on the increase in the volume of trade in goods between the two countries.

Selakovic expressed his belief that the newly-appointed Serbian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Dragan Vladisavljevic would make a significant contribution to the promotion of our economic relations.

According to the Serbian Foreign Minister, there is a need to encourage the business communities of Serbia and Azerbaijan to diversify economic cooperation and intensify direct contacts, and the abolition of visas for Serbian citizens as well as the establishment of direct flights would give a strong impetus to economic cooperation.

Selakovic proposed that the sixth session of the Intergovernmental Commission be held during his upcoming visit to Azerbaijan, as well as that the practice be established of holding regular meetings of the commission once a year.

The Minister announced that, at the next session of the Intergovernmental Commission, Serbia would present certain proposals in the fields of tourism, telecommunications, construction, transport, defense industry, infrastructure, finance, mining, energy, agriculture, forestry, water management, culture, information, schools and education, youth, sports and environmental protection.

The two Ministers also discussed a number of political topics and the Head of Serbian diplomacy pointed out that we highly appreciated the correct position of Azerbaijan concerning non-recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of the so-called "Kosovo", as well as that we hoped that we would be able to count on support on this issue in the period ahead as well.