Serbian Foreign Minister: Working to Improve Serbia-U.S. Relations Is a Necessity

Marko Djuric (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric described as “a necessity” efforts to improve relations between Serbia and the United States, emphasizing that they deserved great attention, hard work and energy.

"I believe that strengthening relations is not only possible but also necessary if we want to see more effective work on Serbia’s full integration into broader European structures, and if we want the dynamic growth of the nation's economy to continue," Djuric said during his speech at the first Pupin Forum, held in Belgrade, on May 31.

Minister Djuric noted that even though over the past few decades the relationship had been complex and marred by discord, primarily over the status of Kosovo, Serbia had sought to isolate sensitive issues so as not to affect cooperation in other areas. He emphasized that in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections Serbia would not root for any candidate and that it would remain prepared to work with any U.S. administration.

"It is important that the Serbs living in the U.S. are now playing a more active role in American politics and organizing themselves more efficiently. I believe that their voice can contribute to profiling Serbia more strongly in the American political system, and getting more American politicians interested in the Balkans and Serbia," Djuric said, adding that Serbia’s foreign policy would be based on a strategic assessment of national interests.