Djuric: Serbia is strengthening its position at the UN General Assembly – important for protecting interests regarding Kosovo as well

Serbia's participation in the United Nations General Assembly has strengthened the country's position on the global stage, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric stated, emphasizing that even at the beginning, progress had been made regarding the country's overall standing, particularly in the protection of national interests related to Kosovo.

Speaking to reporters in New York, Djuric highlighted the tremendous efforts of President Aleksandar Vucic, who will meet with over 40 world leaders, and said that at the same time, he himself will be holding talks with numerous foreign ministers from around the world, and he noted that he could already present concrete results.

"At this session of the UN General Assembly, Serbia has made a seemingly small but significant step in its diplomatic history by establishing relations with several countries with which we had no prior communication or interaction. These are smaller states by population and territory, but they hold membership in the UN, UNESCO, and other international organizations. Every vote in these organizations is crucial to us, as we defend our monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija, our territorial integrity, and sovereignty, but not only that. Together with many countries, we also uphold the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and the pursuit of peace," Djuric pointed out.

He mentioned that Serbia was establishing diplomatic relations with Kiribati at this General Assembly and had already established diplomatic ties with Guyana, an important country in the Caribbean and Central American region, as well as the Marshall Islands, a UN and UNESCO member where decisions concerning Serbia's cultural heritage had been made in previous years, as well as Interpol and other international organizations.

Djuric also noted that visa regimes with several smaller states had been liberalized.

"I will represent Serbia at the Non-Aligned Movement meeting. Serbia continues its multi-vector foreign policy, which means that we aim to maintain and enhance friendships with countries around the world," the head of Serbian diplomacy said.

He also mentioned that Serbia is focused on regional cooperation and that he will represent the country at the Balkan Friends Summit as well as at the A5 format meeting, which includes countries from the Adriatic Basin.

"It is important that, while officially on the sidelines, but really at the heart of events, we will meet with many of our neighbors from the immediate region, as well as representatives from many countries we rarely or never have the chance to meet with. It is no exaggeration to say that through Serbia's delegation, which is working united and synchronously, we have already managed to strengthen Serbia's position on the global stage. We have shown that we value all countries equally, regardless of their strength or size, and that we adhere to the principles of international law," Djuric emphasized.

As he mentioned, representatives from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce are part of the delegation, and many business forums and interactions have been arranged, which is beneficial for Serbia’s economy.

"Given the number of meetings, these seven days can sometimes mean more than six months or more of regular work," the minister stressed.

Djuric also pointed out the numerous high-level interactions President Vucic had, as well as the number of meetings, agreements, and new initiatives in which Serbia has participated, noting that a significant step forward has been made in Serbia's overall position, particularly regarding the protection of national interests concerning Kosovo.

"A country like Serbia is strong and powerful to the extent that it has friends to rely on. We are building an extensive, very broad network of friends on the international stage, far beyond our region, aware that this is a comparative advantage for Serbia. Through this, we are not only building new 'avenues of cooperation' in the economy but also creating better conditions for protecting our territorial integrity, sovereignty, and cultural heritage. Everything is connected to Serbia's overall position. A country like Serbia can thrive and develop if it has an effective and results-oriented administration, but it can also enhance its capacities by expanding its network of good relations," Djuric concluded.

The goal, he said, is to create a safe, peaceful, and friendly environment for Serbia, not just in its immediate neighborhood, but for Serbia to be recognized as a country that builds its position along those lines.

He added that Serbia pursues a nationally responsible foreign policy of extending a hand in friendship.

"Along with all this, we are proud that Serbia conducts an independent and autonomous policy, and in all the meetings I have attended, I have seen that the interests of our citizens and state, rather than external pressures or global interests, guide our policies," the foreign minister said.

Djuric also pointed out that during the Summit for the Future, differing views from some of the world's leading powers had been evident, but that the vote on Guterres' proposal for the future of the UN and international cooperation had shown that traditional lines of bloc divisions were no longer as clear. As he said, some countries that would have previously aligned strictly with major powers, both from the East and the West, are now increasingly charting their own course.

"In such an environment, it is crucial that Serbia is led by a person and a policy that prioritize the interests of Serbian citizens, not directives from elsewhere, while ensuring that no one is antagonized, but instead, this should be a true celebration of friendship between the nations and countries of the world for Serbia," Djuric added.