Ambassador: Serbia, U.S. Partners in Facing Joint Challenges

Anthony Godfrey (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC/MO)

U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Anthony Godfrey said on Oct. 14 that Serbia and U.S. were durable partners in facing joint challenges.

At a gathering on the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Serbia and the U.S., Godfrey said that "the frequency and increasing content of cooperation" spoke of the strength of relations between the two countries. Godfrey said that the spirit of an agreement on U.S. military aid to Yugoslavia in 1951 lived on today, adding that it was reflected in various forms of aid. He added that Serbia's road to the EU was the top joint objective of the two countries.

"Since 2001 we have given Serbia USD1.16 billion in aid. U.S. firms have invested four billion dollars and created jobs for 20,000 workers in Serbia. A recently opened technology park by the NCR company will contribute to creating 5,000 jobs," Godfrey said.

Serbian Speaker Ivica Dacic said that Oct. 14, 1881 when diplomatic ties between the Principality of Serbia and the U.S. were established "is an important date" in Serbia national and diplomatic history. He also said that Serbia and the U.S. were continuing cooperation "as partners" and added that there were many areas in which the two countries could cooperate in.