Đurić from Antalya: Serbia Is Part of the Solution, Not Part of the Problem in the Balkans

The head of Serbian diplomacy emphasized that, within the region and through the Balkan Peace Initiative, whose meeting is expected tomorrow, efforts are being made to create a stable and fundamentally different environment from that which prevailed in previous decades.

“This will not be easy, given the challenges we face, which are inherited and largely political in nature—interethnic relations and various political tensions. However, there is no alternative path to success for our region other than openness and the creation of conditions for the free movement of goods, capital, services, and people.

According to him, this is precisely what, over the past ten years, through the vision of President Aleksandar Vučić, has enabled Serbia to make a significant leap forward.

“Serbia has advanced economically—its economy has grown 2.5 times—and has also advanced, not merely as a phrase but as a tangible reality on the ground, as a factor and contributor to stability and as a country open to dialogue and cooperation. The same message I conveyed a few days ago at other venues and across different meridians, at the United Nations in New York, I reiterate today here in Antalya—that Serbia is part of the solution, not part of the problem in the Balkans,” Đurić concluded.

During his stay in Antalya, he announced a series of bilateral meetings.

“I will meet with Amer Kapetanović, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, specifically to discuss regional cooperation. Together with Prime Minister Macut, we will meet with representatives of Libya. I would recall that the Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs recently visited us in Belgrade—we are revitalizing that cooperation. Later this afternoon, we will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, as well as hold a very important meeting with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania, with the aim of building new bridges, always focused on Serbia’s national interest,” Đurić stated.

He also announced meetings with partners from Africa, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zambia.

“What we are doing here is promoting Serbia and advocating for Serbian interests. I arrived here directly from Prague, and I am once again very pleased with yesterday’s warm welcome and the messages we heard from the new Czech leadership. This demonstrates that Serbia has a strong foothold in its relations with that country as well.

Our message is simple, sincere, and perhaps the most substantive we can convey at this moment—that Serbia is part of the solution at a time when many others across various regions are creating problems,” Đurić emphasized.

In practical terms, he explained, this means an unwavering commitment to stability, economic development, and regional cooperation, a forward-looking orientation combined with the protection of state and national interests, and, above all, an outstretched hand.

“That is the task of us diplomats—to open doors. Here, I have just concluded an important meeting with Fatih Kacır, and the development of economic relations between Serbia and Turkey will be a key focus not only at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum but also in preparation for future high-level visits,” Đurić said.

He recalled that during President Vučić’s recent visit to Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that he would visit Serbia in the coming months.

“Our goal is to prepare concrete economic outcomes from that visit, which will benefit both societies, particularly given that our region, despite all global and regional challenges, continues to record economic growth,” the minister underlined.

He described this as a highly constructive agenda oriented toward cooperation.

“When addressing global issues, we rely on the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, which constitute the best protection for countries such as Serbia. For us, this is the law. The United Nations Charter is not optional—it is binding. Just as our territorial integrity is inviolable for us, so too is the territorial integrity of all other actors in the world. We are building a coalition of countries that share this approach,” Minister Marko Đurić concluded.