Djuric: Serbia needs friends like Uzbekistan to preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric stated in Tashkent that Serbia is gaining another strategic partner in Central Asia — Uzbekistan — emphasizing that, in these times, Serbia needs friends who will help it preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

According to him, the talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov represent a continuation of the dialogue initiated by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic last October.

He stressed that relations between Serbia and Uzbekistan are receiving additional momentum following this visit, as efforts are underway to implement what the two presidents had agreed upon.

“Five days ago, Serbia and Uzbekistan put into force an agreement on economic cooperation. We also have plans to host President Mirziyoyev on a state visit to Serbia in the coming months,” Djuric said in Tashkent.

He pointed out that Uzbekistan is the largest and fastest-growing economy in Central Asia, adding that it is a country of 38 million people which managed to attract 43 billion dollars in foreign direct investment last year.

He also said that Uzbekistan shares a similar geopolitical position and is surrounded by neighbors with whom, thanks to President Mirziyoyev’s policies, it has managed over the past decade to build strong partnerships and position itself as a pillar of stability in Central Asia.

“One important common feature of the policies of Serbia and Uzbekistan is an independent foreign policy. We pursue a multi-vector foreign policy, taking into account the region in which we are located, and I believe that together with Uzbekistan we can help serve as gateways for one another to this part of the world. During my talks with my dear friend, Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, I had the opportunity to see firsthand the opportunities available here,” Djuric said.

As he noted, during his discussions with Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, he had the opportunity to gain insight into the opportunities offered by the Central Asian country, including its strategic position, energy resources, energy production capacities, as well as its ores and minerals.

“They need knowledge and technology. They also need partners in Europe with whom they can cooperate, just as we need partners not only here in Central Asia, but also partners with whom we can jointly undertake projects in Africa and elsewhere. The economic opportunities between Serbia and Uzbekistan are enormous. The political understanding between us is equally significant, because Uzbekistan has stood by us at every moment regarding our territorial integrity and sovereignty, regarding Kosovo and Metohija, and has always voted in our favor in international organizations, even when doing so was difficult for them,” the minister said.

Djuric said that the two countries share similar views on numerous international issues and advocate respect for international law, as well as the urgent resolution of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, adding that personal relations between the leaders of Serbia and Uzbekistan are also at a high level.

The Serbian foreign minister expressed satisfaction with the friendship between Serbia and Uzbekistan.

“I can say that I am delighted Serbia has such friends in these difficult and uncertain times, and that it has established ties with a country that attracted 43 billion dollars in investments last year and will attract 50 billion this year, while its GDP is growing at a remarkable pace,” he said, adding that Uzbekistan is one of the countries of the future.

He noted that Serbia is working to turn the global changes taking place into opportunities, adding that such a combination of changes and crises has never before been seen in modern history.

“These are times when you need friends. Times in which the labor market is being completely transformed thanks to AI, times when you need friends, times of a global energy crisis, times when you need friends who possess knowledge, expertise, and who are a serious energy production hub, as this country is. Times in which the territorial integrity of small and medium-sized countries, as in our case, is being called into question, and times in which you need strategic partners and friends,” he said, adding that Serbia has found such a partner in Uzbekistan.

The minister stressed that Serbia will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy despite its strategic location and will build a network of friends that will strengthen the country in every respect, including the preservation of territorial integrity and sovereignty and the strengthening of defense capacities.

“That is Serbia’s policy, the policy of President Vucic. That is the policy implemented by this government,” Djuric said, recalling previous visits by Serbian officials to Tashkent.

According to him, Serbia is working as a team to strengthen its international position.

“The President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs are leading that effort,” Djuric concluded.

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric began his visit to Uzbekistan with a meeting in Tashkent with the country’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov.

The head of Serbian diplomacy expressed satisfaction with the warm welcome and hospitality during the visit, which he described as important for intensifying bilateral relations and further strengthening ties between Serbia and Uzbekistan, according to a statement by Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“In addition to the traditionally friendly relations between our countries, the strong impetus provided by the recent visit of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to Uzbekistan, as well as the signing of interstate documents, opens the possibility for a significant strengthening of the partnership between the two countries,” the Serbian Foreign Ministry stated.

Djuric emphasized the importance of taking advantage of this positive momentum in the development of political dialogue between Serbia and Uzbekistan, noting that, in light of current geopolitical circumstances, it is invaluable to build and nurture friendships.

During talks with his Uzbek counterpart, Minister Djuric thanked Uzbekistan for its consistent position regarding respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia and for its support of Serbia’s key national interests.

During today’s meeting, the two ministers exchanged views on numerous topics of mutual interest, bearing in mind that the potential of relations between the two countries has not yet been fully utilized.

It was noted that Uzbekistan is an important partner for Serbia in Central Asia, with whom Serbia seeks to further develop economic cooperation, making this one of the key topics of today’s meeting.

The officials also discussed cooperation in agriculture, innovation, advanced technologies, and various industrial sectors.

They additionally pointed to the importance of establishing an Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation, which would contribute to connecting business communities in the two countries.

The interlocutors welcomed the initiative to open an Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Tashkent, in the context of strengthening bilateral ties and laying firmer foundations for the future of relations between the two countries.

Speaking about cooperation between the two ministries, they highlighted the importance of continuing the practice of regular bilateral consultations, strengthening the contractual framework, and exchanging experiences.

Minister Djuric also conveyed to his Uzbek counterpart that Serbia is proud of the “World in Serbia” program.

“We are ready to welcome students from Uzbekistan at our higher education institutions, so that through educational cooperation we may also build bridges between our two friendly countries and peoples,” Djuric said.

During his visit to Tashkent, Djuric also toured the Center of Islamic Civilization.