Djuric meets Ramos: Serbia highly values consistent respect for international law

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric met today with the Prime Minister of Sao Tome and Principe, Americo Ramos, thanking him for his country's principled position of not recognizing Kosovo's independence and for withdrawing its previous decision to recognize it.

Djuric emphasized that Serbia highly values the consistent respect for international law, the United Nations Charter, and the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Djuric and Ramos discussed bilateral relations between Serbia and Sao Tome and Principe, current international issues, and opportunities for expanding cooperation.

The Serbian foreign minister stressed that Serbia remains committed to strengthening its political and economic relations with African countries and expressed its intention to deepen cooperation with Sao Tome and Principe in the fields of education, healthcare, agriculture, digitalization, culture, and other areas of mutual interest.

"Serbia is interested in intensifying political dialogue and the exchange of high-level visits, because we believe this is the best way to further strengthen our bilateral relations," Minister Djuric said.

He also thanked Sao Tome and Principe for confirming its participation in Expo 2027 in Belgrade, emphasizing that the international specialized exhibition will provide an important opportunity for participating countries to showcase their potential and further strengthen Serbia's ties with partners around the world.

Sao Tome and Principe withdrew its recognition of Kosovo in January 2013.

At the time, then-President Manuel Pinto da Costa annulled the previous decision recognizing Kosovo's independence after determining that the decision adopted by the country's former coalition government had never been approved by parliament.