Jovanovic: Dialogue and regional cooperation key to the stability of the Western Balkans

Serbia's State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nevena Jovanovic, emphasized at the 19th Dubrovnik Forum that Serbia remains firmly committed to regional cooperation and the continuation of the European integration process, stressing that dialogue, mutual trust, and practical forms of cooperation are essential prerequisites for the long-term stability and prosperity of the region.

Held under the theme "The Age of Multipolarity: Many Paths, One Future," the Dubrovnik Forum featured Jovanovic as a speaker on the panel "The European Union and the Western Balkans: Jointly Addressing Outstanding Issues," which focused on the region's European perspective, the EU enlargement process, and strengthening cooperation between the European Union and its Western Balkan partners.

Jovanovic placed particular emphasis on the importance of infrastructure connectivity, economic cooperation, and the gradual integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union.

She stated that Serbia pursues a principled and transparent foreign policy based on the protection of its national interests while remaining committed to peace, stability, and the development of good-neighborly relations, according to a statement issued by Serbia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

She underscored that Serbia will continue to advocate an approach founded on dialogue, mutual respect, and practical cooperation as the most effective path toward strengthening trust, ensuring lasting stability, and advancing the shared progress of the Western Balkans.

Jovanovic noted that Serbia participated in the forum with clearly defined priorities focused on the region's future, primarily through strengthening economic connectivity, enhancing stability, and taking concrete steps in the European integration process, while maintaining a strategic commitment to dialogue as the key—and the only sustainable—framework for resolving outstanding issues, alongside its consistent advocacy of the peaceful settlement of disputes and mutual respect.

She assessed that, instead of focusing on common challenges and the European perspective of the Western Balkans, a significant portion of the discussion was marked by unilateral assessments and unfounded attacks against Serbia and its President, which, she said, diverted attention from the core subject of the panel.

Jovanovic noted that, during the previous two days of the forum, the Serbian delegation had expected discussions on regional cooperation and mutual trust to continue in a constructive spirit, with a focus on the region's shared European future. Instead, she said, narratives that continue to burden the political environment in the region once again emerged, diverting attention from key development issues.

She stressed that such approaches do not contribute to building trust or bringing the region closer to its common objective of European Union membership, but instead raise the question of whether forums of this kind are being used effectively to promote genuine dialogue and regional progress.

Jovanovic reiterated that Serbia remains consistently committed to regional cooperation, economic connectivity, and its European path, and will continue to act as a constructive partner in all initiatives that contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Western Balkans.

She particularly emphasized that Serbia's vision is not of a region burdened by divisions and the rhetoric of the past, but of one that is interconnected, economically developed, and advancing together toward membership in the European Union. In this context, she noted that the policies of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic are consistently founded on peace, stability, and regional economic integration through concrete initiatives aimed at the shared well-being of citizens.

Jovanovic concluded by stating that, regardless of differing political approaches, Serbia will continue to pursue a responsible and constructive policy focused on dialogue, cooperation, and the region's common European future, convinced that such an approach is the only sustainable path toward a stable and prosperous Western Balkans.