Djuric: Serbia has gained a new strategic partner in Central Asia through Uzbekistan

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Marko Djuric stated today from Tashkent that Serbia has gained a new strategic partner in Central Asia through Uzbekistan, emphasizing the importance of having rapidly developing countries on Serbia’s side regarding key state and national issues such as Kosovo, as well as a range of other matters.

“We are concluding a successful two-day visit to Uzbekistan. Serbia has gained a new strategic partner in Central Asia in Tashkent, following the visit of President Aleksandar Vucic and other government officials in recent months. Through this partnership, we are creating opportunities for the future of the Serbian economy and Serbian foreign policy, given that it is important for us that countries developing at lightning speed stand with us on important state and national issues, such as Kosovo and Metohija, as well as on a number of other matters important to us that are not only political, but also economic in nature,” Djuric told reporters.

Pointing to the development of that part of the world, Djuric noted that, alongside him, the Austrian Foreign Minister and other officials were also visiting Uzbekistan, seeking “their place in the sun” within the growing economies of Central Asia.

“That is why it is important that we are here first, that we have a strategic partnership and friendship founded both on the excellent relations between the two presidents and on the strong connectivity between our systems. My personal impression, after two years serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs, is that this has been by far one of the warmest welcomes ever extended to a Serbian delegation,” Djuric stated.

He noted that, in addition to talks with his counterpart Bakhtiyor Saidov, he also met with the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who, according to Djuric, enjoys significant regional authority given Uzbekistan’s central role in that part of Asia, much as Serbia plays a central role in its own region.

Djuric also visited a technology park developed as part of an initiative to reindustrialize a former industrial zone that, during the Soviet era, produced Ilyushin aircraft.

“Today, a wide range of products is manufactured here in factories employing thousands of people. It looks more like a pharmacy than a factory. With state support, but on sound market foundations, they succeeded in reindustrializing an important industrial facility. This is interesting to us both as a model and as a potential partnership opportunity,” the minister said.

During his stay in Tashkent, Djuric also visited the Olympic Village, where, he noted, exceptional conditions had been created for athletes. He observed that, thanks to investments in sports, Uzbekistan had transformed from a country without notable Olympic achievements into one that won 13 or 14 medals at the most recent Olympic Games, including eight gold medals.

“That represents tremendous progress in sports, and we also discussed strengthening cooperation in that sphere,” Djuric added.

He further noted that talks with the Minister of Economy were scheduled for today, emphasizing that every minute of his visit to Tashkent had been filled with concrete and result-oriented activities.

“We are very satisfied and hope that in the coming months we will have the opportunity to host President Mirziyoyev in our country. I conveyed to him the warm greetings of President Vucic and Serbia’s desire to strengthen this partnership for the future,” Djuric concluded.

Earlier, the Minister met with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, whom he thanked for Uzbekistan’s support for preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia.

During the previous day, Djuric also held talks with Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov.