President of Serbian-American Friendship Congress at Prayer Breakfast in Washington

Washington (Photo: Pixabay)

The president of the Serbian-American Friendship Congress, Vladimir Marinkovic, stated on Feb. 6 that he met in Washington with members of the U.S. Congress and discussed the advancement of the two countries relations and stability in the Western Balkans.

Members of the U.S. Congress’ lower house, Robert Aderholt and Tracey Mann, told Marinkovic, who was in Washington to attend the Prayer Breakfast at Capitol Hill, that the role of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was “of great significance for the accomplishing of peace and stability” in the Western Balkans, the Serbian-American Friendship Congress has stated.

During the meeting, the participants stressed the importance of the Open Balkan initiative, as an example of cooperation among states and peoples, and of economic cooperation as the key to political stability, it was stated. Marinkovic, who is a former deputy speaker of the Serbian parliament (2014-2020), informed Aderholt and Mann about the potentials and possibilities provided by the opening of strategic dialogue between the two countries, and they responded that this was an opportunity that neither Serbia, nor the U.S. should miss, the statement reads.

During the visit to Washington, Marinkovic also attended the working lunch at Capitol Hill, organized by the speaker of the Congress’ House of Representatives, Mike Johnson. Members of the U.S. Congress declared that they were open for advancing cooperation with the Assembly of Serbia and other institutions, that there was a lot of room for its improvement and that both houses of the U.S. parliament would be open for any initiative aimed at strengthening the two countries’ partnership, it was declared in the statement.