Dačić: Relations with Spain excellent, we will work to improve economic cooperation
"We are grateful to Spain for the firm position that is greatly helpful to us in terms of the principles of maintaining sovereignty and integrity because, when we speak about Kosovo and Metohija, we do not only speak from the perspective of our own interest, but also from the perspective of respect for the universal principles of international law," Dačić said.
He noted that Spain's stance was extremely important to Serbia and added that Serbia, too, supports the integrity and sovereignty of Spain with regard to various separatist concepts and movements that are also attempting to achieve their objectives through unilateral acts.
"To us, it is also important to work on improvement of economic relations, and our trade volume has reached almost 1.5 billion euros, and we need to continue to develop and improve that cooperation further," Dačić said.
He said the Cervantes Institute, which has been operating in Serbia for nearly 20 years, is a positive example of cooperation. "We look forward to Spain's EU presidency as of July," Dačić said and added jokingly that we wish all success to Spain except when their sports teams are playing against ours.
Spanish Foreign Minister assessed that the talks with Dačić were held in a friendly atmosphere, chiefly addressing bilateral relations, the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the ways to bring the Western Balkans closer to the EU.
He added that the region could count on Spain during its EU presidency. "I began my visit to the region with a visit to Serbia because it is an important partner to us, since our bilateral trade has exceeded 1 billion euros. We want our companies to be more present in Serbia," he said.
He particularly pointed to the importance of the Cervantes Institute in Belgrade, one-of-a-kind in the Balkans, which has a key role in the cultural exchange and encourages greater learning of the Spanish language.
"In two months’, we will be presiding over the EU, and we are making a list of priorities, primarily when it comes to strengthening the economy and economic cooperation. I am talking to European colleagues about holding a ministerial meeting in the next semester so that we from the EU get to know the Western Balkans better and have a good dialogue," Albares said.
He added that he also wanted to hear Serbia's position on Russia's attack on Ukraine, and that this issue and the desire of the two countries to work together based on friendship and expanding ties in all areas, will be discussed with the Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić as well. He also said that in the Memorandum signed with Serbia the day before, Spain promised to support Serbia in its European aspirations.
Source/Photo: Tanjug
