Pupin Forum in Washington: A historic moment in Serbia-US relations

Organized by the Pupin Initiative, the "Pupin Forum" was held in Washington today, and it brought together business leaders, representatives of academia, the Serbian diaspora, and American politicians who are showing increased interest in Serbia and developments in the Balkans.

Serbia's Foreign Minister, Marko Djuric, spoke on one of the panels, emphasizing that Serbia seeks a strategic dialogue and partnership with the United States.

Reflecting on his time as Serbia's ambassador to the US, Djuric noted that the biggest challenge at first had been the lack of interest from the US administration in the situation in the Balkans, due to other global issues.

"It is not easy to attract the attention of high-ranking policymakers to Balkan matters. However, high-level political attention is necessary to resolve some of the inherited problems in the Balkans. So many positive things are happening – we have significant economic growth, and the Balkans can be a good news story in Europe, but political attention is essential for that to happen," Djuric explained.

The second problem, according to him, is getting policymakers to view Serbia and the region from a different perspective, as most people outside a narrow circle of experts last heard about the Balkans during the conflicts of the 1990s.

"Serbia also needs to build capacities for interaction with the US. Although we are a small nation in numbers, we have the mentality of a great nation with big ambitions, but those ambitions must be accompanied by the appropriate capacities," Djuric added.

He also highlighted the importance of the large Serbian diaspora in the US, which could be a significant factor in building stronger Serbia-US relations.

When asked about his goals as the new head of Serbia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Djuric explained that the aim is to expand partnerships and friendships worldwide, revitalize Serbia's diplomatic network, modernize it, and equip it with human resources and technological tools to achieve these goals.

"We must be very efficient in delivering our messages and creating new friendships, which will require building the capacities to do so. We will strive to make Serbia more present in the international community to foster friendships, stimulate economic growth, and increase global connectivity. I will dedicate every moment of my time to these goals," Djuric said.

At the event, California Congressman Eric Swalwell also spoke, stressing the importance of deepening mutually beneficial Serbia-US cooperation on several fronts.

According to him, the first goal should be strengthening military ties with Serbia, as maintaining stability in the Balkans through this partnership is crucial; the second goal is to help Serbia exploit strategic raw materials in a way that meets the highest environmental standards; and the third important goal should be expanding the "Open Balkan" initiative and raising awareness of its importance in the US.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Balkans Alexander Kasanof also addressed the gathering. He recognizes significant opportunities for accelerated development in the region and views Serbia as a key player in this process.

According to him, Serbia's economic achievements reflect great vitality, and the US hopes to see this trend continue, alongside strengthening integration and cooperation processes across the Western Balkans, whether in relations with the US or the EU.

"This is a historic moment, as it gives us the opportunity to finally turn a new page and move away from the 1990s and the legacy of that time," Kasanof concluded.