Djuric: The same standards of international law are needed for everyone

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric stated in Helsinki that Finlandia Hall is the place where the OSCE was founded and where the principles governing international relations were established, including the inviolability of borders and respect for the territorial integrity of states, stressing that the same standards of international law must apply to everyone.

"We are concluding a successful visit to Finland, during which we held talks with the country's highest officials, and I would say that an additional impetus has been given to our relations. We are symbolically ending the visit here at Finlandia Hall, the place where the OSCE was founded and where the Helsinki Principles were inscribed into international relations and public international law, principles concerning the inviolability of borders and respect for the territorial integrity of states. At that time, in the midst of the Cold War in 1975, a very important message was sent: that states divided by ideologies, conflicts, and wars should cooperate with one another," Djuric said, stressing that the same standards of international law are needed for everyone.

Precisely for that reason, Djuric said, he is sending a message from Finland that peace, renewed dialogue and cooperation, as well as the affirmation of international law, the territorial integrity of states, and multilateralism are needed now more than ever.

"I am confident that, following this visit, our relations with Finland will continue on an upward trajectory. We will strive to make use of the economic potential that undoubtedly exists on both sides, and we will continue to advocate for Serbia in Europe, but also for Europe in Serbia," Djuric said.

On Tuesday in Helsinki, he met with Finland's highest state officials, President Alexander Stubb and Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, as well as representatives of the Finnish Parliament.

The main topics of those discussions were the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the current situation in Kosovo, as well as bilateral cooperation between Serbia and Finland.