FM Discusses Advancing Political Cooperation with Congressman Michael Turner

Marko Djuric (BETAPHOTO/Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric had talks in Washington with Congressman Michael Turner about bilateral relations between Serbia and the U.S. and the further advancement of political cooperation.

During the meeting, continuing the talks initiated during Congressman Turner’s recent visit to Belgrade, they reiterated the support to the prompt initiation of strategic dialogue between the two countries and assessed that regular communication was an important precondition for stability and predictability of relations, the Foreign Ministry of Serbia announced on Dec. 3. 

The focus of the talks was on the current situation in the region. Djuric informed Representative Turner about the challenges Belgrade was faced with, especially regarding the safety of the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and attempts at limiting their basic political rights, such as participating in the electoral process. They also considered the planned activities in the U.S. Congress that pertain to the Western Balkan region. 

In Washington, the Serbian minister also met with the U.S. congressman and member of the Serbian Caucus, Brad Schneider, with whom he discussed the intensifying of political dialogue and economic ties, Kosovo and sanctions on the Serbian Oil Industry (NIS). The establishing of strategic dialogue, Djuric pointed out, would be an additional impulse for the strengthening of comprehensive cooperation in a number of fields of mutual interest.