Selaković: Numerous opportunities to improve cooperation with Saint Lucia

At the press conference after the meeting, Minister Selaković expressed his satisfaction with the fact that this is the first visit of Saint Lucia officials to our country, with the expectation that it will contribute to further understanding and more dynamic cooperation. 

Minister Selaković pointed out that he discussed with Minister Baptiste the state of bilateral relations and the possibilities for their improvement, especially in the fields of economy, culture, education and tourism. “I have used the opportunity to inform Minister Baptiste about the social and economic situation in Serbia. I especially stressed what we are all proud of, and that is our economic success, and the fact that Serbia has been the fastest growing economy in Europe for the last two years”, he said. 

Minister Selaković stated that he talked with Minister Baptiste about Serbia's European perspective, conveying to him that Serbia is the only country in the region that valorised its previous reforms last year in the form of continuing its path to the European Union. He also informed Minister Baptiste about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, and about the overall situation in the region of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans.

Minister Selaković also emphasized that it was jointly stated at the meeting that economic cooperation is on a symbolic level, noting that there are ways to develop our economic and trade cooperation in the entire Caribbean region.

When it comes to strengthening cooperation in the field of education, Minister Selaković said that from this academic year, we have the first student from Saint Lucia studying in Serbia within the program The World in Serbia, stressing that we want to encourage our friends from that country to apply, and that we will do our best to provide more scholarships.

He also said that they discussed the modalities of participation in the work of regional organizations in the Western Hemisphere, saying that Serbia has observer status in them and that Serbia will continue to actively promote interests in strengthening cooperation with countries from this part of the world. “Although our two countries are geographically distant from each other, we are bound by common values to which we are committed, and that is that we want to live in a world that is developing in peace and in the spirit of cooperation between states, in the spirit of multilateralism, as well as in respect for the basic postulates of international public law” Minister Selaković concluded.

Minister Baptiste stressed that both Saint Lucia and Serbia are determined to build a better society, in order to enable humanity to live in a better world, both today and in the future. “I am very happy because of the cordiality with which we were welcomed during our visit to Serbia. We will always be friends and distance will not stand in the way of our friendship, because distance does not affect the path that is more like a journey of the heart than a physical contact.”, he said.

Minister Baptiste expressed satisfaction with the fact that one student from Saint Lucia is currently studying in Serbia, because, as he said, education is helping to build a new world that we all strive for. “Today, we are sowing the seeds of friendship and laying the foundation for a different type of structure, which is not Serbia and Saint Lucia, but an entity that will solve both simple and complex issues. Let Serbia know that Saint Lucia is a true friend” Minister Baptiste stated. 

According to him, the bilateral agreements signed today are a legacy for future generations, because Serbia and Saint Lucia will continue to cooperate in a hundred years.

Today, the two ministers signed the Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports, the Memorandum of Understanding on Friendship and Joint Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Culture, agreeing that this is a good basis for future cooperation.