site.btaWashington and Belgrade to Launch Strategic Dialogue

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric told Serbia's public broadcaster RTS that the decision to launch a strategic dialogue between Serbia and the United States is one of the most significant developments in relations between the two countries in recent years.

According to Djuric, a decision was made in Washington to begin the strategic dialogue, with the first session scheduled to take place on Friday.

"For the first time in history, Serbia and the United States are elevating their relationship to the level of a strategic partnership," Djuric said.

He added that the decision by the administration of President Donald Trump sends a strong political signal not only to Serbia and its institutions, but also to the American public and US government institutions.

Djuric said that the launch of the strategic dialogue is the result of years of diplomatic efforts and thanked Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for his support of the process.

According to Djuric, the establishment of a strategic dialogue with the United States will have a positive impact on economic cooperation, Serbia's international standing, and the lives of its citizens.

Explaining the significance of the new framework for cooperation, Djuric said that the strategic dialogue places Serbia among the countries with which Washington maintains its highest level of institutional cooperation.

"Serbia is now entering a position that even Yugoslavia never held - to be officially recognized as one of the United States' strategic partners," Djuric said, emphasizing that this is "in Serbia\s national interest."

He added that such a status is also important because of key state and national issues related to Kosovo, Republika Srpska (in Bosnia and Herzegovina), and the preservation of Serbia's internal stability.