Speech by Minister Dačić at New Year reception

Your Excellencies,

Esteemed members of the Government of Serbia,

Esteemed colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Esteemed media representatives,

Dear colleagues and friends,

It is a great honour to greet you at this traditional New Year reception hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the diplomatic corps. As you already know, we are striving to foster the tradition of holding these gatherings on the New Year’s Eve according to the Julian calendar, which is informally, but with pride, also called “Serbian New Year” in our country. I wish you good health and all the best. I believe that you will continue to find the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia a dependable and suitable partner in discussion and in all matters of interest. I would like to use this opportunity to publicly commend the efforts of our diplomats, who will continue to relentlessly work on enhancing the reputation of Serbia and representing our principled position in the international arena.

In the period ahead, Serbia’s diplomatic activities will be aimed at achieving the main objectives and priorities of our foreign policy, namely, preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, achievement of full membership in the EU, development of good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation, improvement of bilateral relations with all countries in the world and particularly fostering our traditional partnerships, active contribution to multilateralism while fully observing the principle of international law, Serbia's contribution to peace and security, and continued engagement in providing aid and support to our citizens throughout the world. World peace is in danger. The war in Ukraine has started to exhibit characteristics of a global conflict, with consequences for the entire world.

Dear friends,

For these reasons, we will advocate for peace, for a détente, for observance of the universal principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, as our government’s priority, and these concerns will continue to shape Serbia’s foreign policy and diplomatic activities. Unfortunately, we have a difficult road ahead in our efforts to fulfil this mission, which appears simple, but is, in fact, exceptionally complex and complicated. We are therefore very negatively surprised by the loose and selective interpretation of the international public law, as we believe that the power of every principle lies in its full and universal application and unconditional observation. Allow me to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to the countries which have been consistent in their non-recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, and to those which have adjusted or will adjust their position for the purpose of finding a sustainable compromise solution.

At the same time, I wish to highlight our clear and repeatedly reaffirmed position that any attempt to resolve the Kosovo issue is only possible through the established dialogue mechanism between Belgrade and Pristina. In the dialogue with temporary institutions of self-government in Pristina, there are three things Belgrade will always uphold:

Firstly, every agreement which has been signed  so far must be implemented: Resolution SC UN 1244, Brussels Agreement, Washington Agreement.

Secondly, Serbia cannot recognise the independence or agree with Pristina’s membership in the UN.

And the third and maybe the most important matter is our wish to ensure full rights and safety for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.

During the previous year, you saw our full commitment to the dialogue in Brussels, which reflected our sincere dedication to finding solutions to the existing problems. At the same time, our clear, firm and consistent view is that any solution must be based on a compromise, with full respect for our positions and interests. Unfortunately, we have witnessed unilateral actions of the current government in Pristina, which continues to intentionally and systematically cause tensions and create an atmosphere of mistrust.  The latest in a series of consequences of such destructive conduct of Pristina is the attempted murder of Serbian children near the town of Štrpce on Christmas Eve, the day before the happiest Christian holiday. We believe that such conduct and incidents need to be more widely condemned by the international community, and that the causes of this current situation need to be properly identified. International missions - KFOR, UNMIK and EULEX - are particularly important for the Serbian community in Kosovo and Metohija. The security situation in this Province unfortunately requires their presence to be if not larger, then at least unchanged. In addition, our multilateral activities are in the service of the protection of vital interests in international forums, by which I mean, first and foremost, preventing the so-called Kosovo from becoming a member of international organisations. Our position is that, in this phase of the dialogue, we must be fully focused on finding a compromise solution, and should not waste any of the much needed attention for no good reason. This is also why Pristina’s attempts to use the current international situation for its political agenda must not be tolerated. On our part, I assure you that we will continue to make strong efforts toward peace and stability, and to defend international law, particularly with respect to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the UN Member States.

Serbia still believes that it can gain full membership in the EU, and that the promise from Thessaloniki is a realistic and attainable goal. Thus the fulfilment of criteria on the path to full membership remains one of our key foreign policy priorities, and at the same time, has been the strategic goal of all the governments of Serbia over the last 20 years. At a time when the European Union itself is being tested, when opinions about the need for internal reorganisation are gaining traction, our message, which we have consistently repeated, is that a EU reform must run parallel to the EU enlargement. We believe that these processes are not mutually opposed but complementary, and the goal certainly remains to achieve unity and solidarity on the European continent.

Ladies and gentlemen,

From the outbreak of the armed conflict in Ukraine, there have been increasingly louder voices questioning whether Serbia should become a EU Member State. Our answer is clear: Serbia belongs to the European family and community of nations in every regard. This is not just because of economic indicators or the fact that the European Union is our main economic partner. On the contrary, Serbia chose the European path primarily due to the transformational power of the negotiation process, since we are convinced that our commitment to reform will enable a better life and a brighter future for our citizens. However, to achieve this goal, which we believe to be mutually beneficial, we need to keep the European perspective alive, because it is a catalyst for reforms and prosperity not only in Serbia, but also in the entire region. For that reason, we need clear developments and tangible progress in negotiations,,and for certain EU Member States to become more open to accepting new members. A chance to take big strides forward is already there during the current Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The EU project can be successfully completed only with a full integration of the Western Balkans region, which will unlock the possibility to unify the European continent.

I cannot pass this opportunity to mention another important topic. Serbia is committed to an intense cooperation with the European Union with respect to its foreign and security policy. Let me remind you that Serbia is still not a Member State, and that we do not take part in the creation of the European Union policy. In the pre-accession period, Serbia is obliged to gradually align its foreign and security policy with the European Union policies. With these gradual alignments, we are trying to achieve full alignment in this field. However, it is very unfair to expect any big strides at times when there is no concrete progress, when the readiness for the accession of new members is questionable, and when preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty is uncertain due to double standards. In addition, we have continued to align our visa policy with the EU standards and recommendations. What we need is a cohesion of views of the Member States about the enlargement policy, and a clear political signal that the enlargement is still viable and real.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Our European path does not preclude our commitment to the development of cooperation with countries from other regions, including fostering traditional friendships with countries of Africa, Asia-Pacific and South America. Regardless of the geographical distance, we have deep mutual respect, sympathy and interest in deepening and expanding our cooperation and friendships between our nations.

I would like to emphasise that Serbia is determined to redefine its relations with its neighbours, by overcoming the outstanding issues from the past and focusing our mutual bilateral agendas on the future. My recent visit to Zagreb was a part of these efforts. On that occasion, I highlighted the importance of building trust, renewing strategic communication and harmonising objectives, as a guarantee of a better future. Historical issues and disagreements must be overcome by building strong foundations and bridges based on a future together. We may not be able to choose our neighbours, but we absolutely must work together. In particular, we are interested in all mechanisms of improving regional cooperation, but we believe that regional connections must not and cannot substitute the benefits of a full EU membership. We are aware that a full EU membership is the staple connecting the political agendas in the region. As regards regional initiatives, I would particularly single out the Open Balkan initiative as an example of autochthonous connections formed in the region with the goal of creating better living conditions. In addition to undeniable mutual economic benefits of this initiative, it also has a broader dimension, primarily by connecting people from different cultures and promoting cultural diversity, which certainly contributes to the overall development of societies in this part of Europe. Together with Albania and North Macedonia, Serbia has recognised this initiative as a faster way to achieve economic and social development and scientific and technological prosperity and to further strengthen cultural relations between our nations, with a hope that the initiative will cover the entire region in the future.  This is another way in which Serbia is continuing to contribute to peace, stability and the reconciliation process in the region, which is certainly also a significant contribution to the global safety. 

On the multilateral level, Serbia is trying to reinforce its international position and give an active contribution to the further development of multilateralism. We are convinced that multilateralism is the only answer to all global challenges, which are becoming more complex every day, exceeding individual capacities of countries, regardless of whether the issue is the pandemic, climate change, or attainment of sustainable development goals. For this, we need a broader approach, solidarity and unity on the global level. Serbia is determined to look for answers to all contemporary security challenges in international cooperation. We see the United Nations as the crucial forum and institution whose earlier reputation must be restored, as we believe that only the UN has the capacities necessary for a broader and more inclusive dialogue for the purpose of formulating a joint response to the current global challenges.

As regards security policy, in addition to the preservation of regional peace and stability, Serbia’s priority is its participation in EU and UN peace missions and operations. This is how we actively contribute to the stabilisation of global circumstances. At the same time, we are showing our readiness to share responsibility in facing security challenges on a global level. A particularly interesting fact is that Serbia’s participation in EU and UN missions and operations, compared to its population size, makes Serbia one of the top contributors in this regard. This is the best reflection of our peacetime policy.

In terms of caring for our citizens, we plan to further expand and modernise the consular network in 2023, and to improve the quality of consular services for our citizens throughout the world. At the same time, activities have been launched for the purpose of visa liberalisation by concluding multiple bilateral agreements, so the number of countries where our citizens can travel visa-free will expand in 2023. Serbian citizens may travel visa-free to 136 countries, and the Serbian passport is tanked 38th according to the latest Henley Passport Index 2023. We are continuing to actively work towards preserving the national and cultural identity of the Serbian diaspora and Serbs in the region, at the same time improving the status of minorities in Serbia.

I would like to highlight my support to the policy of peace and stability of President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, and express my gratitude to the President’s Staff for exceptional cooperation. I also wish to thank the Staff of the Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić and the Government of Serbia, my colleagues - the other Ministers, and representatives of other institutions of the Republic of Serbia who are present here today. I believe we will continue our successful coordination and communication in achieving our jointly defined objectives.

Finally, I am very grateful to see you here in such great numbers, and I would like you to carry this message to your capital cities and seats of your organisations - that Serbia is strongly committed to the development of comprehensive and extensive cooperation with your countries and organisations in all fields of mutual interest. Serbia is a reliable partner striving to strengthen its bilateral and multilateral connections by intensifying dialogue on all levels, since, at the end of the day, our role is to talk to each other, even when we don't see eye to eye, as it is only through dialogue that we can find togetherness.

For the sake of that, I would like to raise a toast to world peace, to peace and stability in our region and our country, and to future successes. I will do so with a glass of slivovitz, which has, since last year, been on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.

Cheers!

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs