Djuric: Visit to Finland a diplomatic breakthrough for Serbia toward the Nordic countries

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric stated today that his visit to Finland represents an important step in Serbian-Finnish relations and for Serbia's European future, but also a diplomatic breakthrough toward the Nordic countries. He added that he had pointed out to Finnish officials, as he always does, the difficult position of Serbs in Kosovo.

"At today's meetings with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, and leaders of parliamentary groups, support for Serbia's European future was once again confirmed and unequivocally expressed. A new impetus was given to bilateral cooperation," Djuric said, noting that this was the first ministerial visit to Finland in more than a decade.

He said that in discussions with his hosts, they examined the broader picture, namely developments in Finland's immediate neighborhood and the resulting political, security, and economic changes.

"There is a high level of agreement between us that only a united Europe is a stronger Europe, and that Serbia, as a centrally located country in Southeast Europe, represents one of the development opportunities, together with the rest of the region, for our continent," Djuric stated.

He added that they also discussed issues on which the two countries do not share identical views, such as the issue of Kosovo.

"I took the opportunity to point out the difficult position of our people in Kosovo and Metohija. I never miss that opportunity," he emphasized.

Djuric said that Presidents Aleksandar Vucic and Alexander Stubb enjoy excellent relations and that, in addition to conveying greetings, he also extended an invitation from Vucic for the Finnish president to visit Serbia.

"With Minister Valtonen, I discussed concrete ways of supporting EU enlargement to the region. I tried to explain why a region without borders, integrated into Schengen and the common market, would generate €50 billion in new value annually, and why such a more united and cohesive region would eliminate potentially vulnerable points in the south of the continent," Djuric said.

He recalled that Finnish companies are operating in Serbia in the field of renewable energy, as well as in other sectors, and expressed hope that the volume of Finnish investment would increase.

"It is very important for us to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough toward the Nordic group of countries. Today's visit represents a step forward in Serbia's relations not only with Finland, but also a diplomatic breakthrough toward the Nordic countries and a strengthening of Serbia's position in Northern Europe," Minister Djuric concluded.