Ljubljana, 11 September 2009 - Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Žbogar hosted Serbian Foreign Minister at a working visit. This was their second bilateral meeting this year aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries. The dynamics of the meetings proves that relations between Slovenia and Serbia are positive and friendly. At the end of September, Serbian President Boris Tadić and the Serbian economic delegation will visit Slovenia, while at the end of October, the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, Pavle Gantar, will be visiting Serbia.

 

Ministers Žbogar and Jeremić (Photo: Bobo)

In their discussion, the ministers confirmed a mutual interest in further strengthening bilateral relations and economic cooperation. In 2008, trade between Slovenia and Serbia amounted to EUR 1.1 billion. Serbia leads in Slovenian foreign investments - the cumulative value of Slovenian investments in Serbia amounted to EUR 1.635 billion at the end of 2008; while Serbian investments in Slovenia amounted to EUR 21 billion. In the light of strengthening economic cooperation, the ministers also discussed the issue of the property of Slovenian companies in Serbia.

 

(Photo: Bobo)

 

As most of the outstanding issues between the two countries relate to succession, Minister Žbogar stressed the importance of the meeting of senior representatives of successor states to be held on 17 and 18 September in Belgrade.

 

The ministers also discussed cooperation between Serbia and the EU. For Serbia, 2008 was a year of important steps towards EU accession. During the Slovenian EU Council Presidency, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and the Interim Agreement on Trade were signed; furthermore, Slovenia initiated the process of introducing the visa-free regime for the Western Balkan countries. The ministers expressed their satisfaction with the fact that Serbia is in the first round of the visa liberalisation process. Slovenia is also participating in meeting the final conditions for introducing a visa-free regime for Serbia, more precisely in implementing the Act against Corruption, which concerns the code of ethics in border control.

 

The ministers also exchanged views on regional issues. Slovenia stressed the importance of the European perspective, as it is a key lever in the reform processes in the Western Balkan countries, and emphasised its readiness to assist by transferring its experience in various fields.

 

As the current Chairman of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, Minister Žbogar welcomed Serbia’s ratification of several conventions of the Council of Europe, and called for ratification of the European Social Charter.