Djuric: A breath of fresh air in Serbia-US relations

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Marko Djuric, met today with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Brendan Hanrahan, to discuss priority issues in the field of bilateral cooperation, the situation in the region, and current international topics.

According to a statement from the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Djuric emphasized that Serbia attaches great importance to the development of strategic partnership and overall relations with the United States, which he described as one of Serbia’s most important foreign policy partners.

Djuric informed his interlocutor about the situation in Kosovo, expressing serious concern over the continued provocations, intimidation, and violent actions of Pristina. He pointed out that such actions seriously threaten the continuation of the dialogue, adding that stronger international pressure on Pristina is necessary in order to prevent escalation and ensure conditions for dialogue to proceed.

He stressed that meetings with American officials are an opportunity for regular and open exchange of views, contributing to greater transparency and the strengthening of mutual trust. He expressed confidence that cooperation and relations between Serbia and the US, which are already experiencing a “breath of fresh air,” have a promising future.

The discussion particularly highlighted the importance of economic cooperation, which has intensified in recent years, reflected in the increasing presence of American companies in Serbia and the growth of trade volume.

Djuric noted that Serbia and the US have elevated their relations to the level of strategic partnership in the field of energy, which is becoming one of the key pillars of economic cooperation and a driver of deeper overall ties. He assessed that the signed agreements on strategic cooperation in the energy sector will give strong momentum to the implementation of key projects in this vital area.

Minister Djuric also stated that Serbia continues to support the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance with the Dayton Agreement, and the Republic of Srpska as one of its entities, but also noted that reckless statements and actions by certain high-ranking officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina do not contribute to the process of reconciliation and building good neighborly relations, and called for restraint and responsibility from all political actors.

He reiterated that Serbia remains committed to preserving peace and stability and to developing future-oriented regional cooperation, with a focus on the economy, infrastructure connectivity, and projects of common interest.