Selaković: The most intense foreign policy week in a long time

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, summarising the activities of the Serbian delegation at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, said today that when it comes to Serbia's foreign policy activities, the past week was the most intense in the past year, and perhaps in a longer period.

Minister Selaković said at the press conference that President Aleksandar Vučić and himself had many meetings and made many contacts on the margins of the UNGA 77, which are measured not by dozens but by hundreds.

“I had the opportunity to speak directly with 95 ministers of foreign affairs of the UN member states and to discuss various topics, as well as to sign a total of 13 different agreements, protocols, memoranda, and plans. I want to emphasise the fact that we signed not one, but two agreements with Brazil, Colombia, and Senegal”, Selaković said.

Minister Selaković specified that main topics of the meetings concerned Kosovo and Metohija, defending our national interests and our state, and the improvement of bilateral relations.

Minister Selaković said that, among many meetings held this year, the meetings between President Aleksandar Vučić and the United States National Security Advisor to President Joe Biden Jake Sullivan, and with several members of Congress and various representatives of the American society were particularly important.

“These meetings also signal new dynamics in Serbia  US relations, and our commitment to improving those relations. The talks concerned the issues of energy, energy diversification, plans for the construction of solar parks and wind farms, the construction of Đerdap 3 hydroelectric plant, which, due to relations with our neighbour Romania and their international relations and position, can only be built by the US, as well as the construction of Serbia-Bulgaria and Serbia-North Macedonia interconnectors”, Selaković said.

Asked whether Serbia will recognize the results of the referendum in the Ukrainian regions, Selaković said that in accordance with the UN Charter and the principles and norms of public international law, Serbia cannot accept the results of the referendum in the Ukrainian regions.

“It would be completely contrary to our national interests, our policy of preserving territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of borders”, Selaković said.

When asked about the consultation plan that was signed in New York with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Selaković answered that it has been an ongoing practice since 1996, that it is a technical matter that, in addition to bilateral and multilateral consultations that concern the UN, which is important for us as it concerns Kosovo and Metohija, this year does not include security policy consultations.

Minister Selaković pointed out that the questions related to that document are an attempt to find reasons to attack and discipline Serbia.

“I think that the government can, due to this situation and relationship, reject such a plan, but I do not see anything fundamentally objectionable in that plan. The plan is under attack by those who have not even seen it, and they are only looking for a reason to attack Serbia, in an attempt to discipline it. We are talking with all countries, especially with countries that do not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo and Metohija, but we also consult with those with completely opposite views, and these consultations are nothing but an attempt to better argue our position”, Selaković explained.