MUNICH, Germany, February 15 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar extended greetings to the government and people of Serbia on their Statehood Day during his visit to Munich for the 62nd Munich Security Conference on Sunday.
Jaishankar had earlier met Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric on the sidelines of the conference Saturday. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Greetings to FM @markodjuric, the government and people of Serbia on their Statehood Day. Appreciate our long-standing partnership.”
In a separate post on X, Serbia’s Foreign Ministry said, “Happy #StatehoodDay of #Serbia, #Sretenje! Today, we remember the historic moments that laid the foundations of our modern state and affirmed the ideals of freedom and constitutionalism. Proud of our tradition, we continue to build Serbia’s future on the principles of peace, stability, and unity!”
According to an official press release issued by Serbia’s Foreign Ministry, Djuric and Jaishankar discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and exchanged views on global issues in a changing world during their meeting on the sidelines of the conference.
The talks reaffirmed that India and Serbia share a longstanding friendship dating back to the Non-Aligned Movement era and are committed to further strengthening comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation, the press release said.
Djuric expressed satisfaction over the upcoming participation of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, highlighting the importance of high-level engagements in boosting ties. He also invited Jaishankar to visit Serbia in the near future.
During the meeting, Djuric thanked India for its consistent stance on the non-recognition of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence and briefed the Indian side on recent developments related to the European Union-facilitated dialogue.
The ministers agreed there is scope to enhance economic cooperation and collaboration in areas of mutual interest. Djuric also invited India to participate in Expo 2027 in Belgrade, expressing hope that India would be among the countries showcasing its culture and innovation at the international exhibition, according to the press release.
The interaction marked another step in ongoing diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Belgrade amid broader discussions at the Munich Security Conference.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, India and Serbia, as part of the former Yugoslavia, have traditionally enjoyed close ties as co-founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. The relationship has continued in subsequent decades, resulting in friendly bilateral relations.
In 2023, the two countries celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. India has supported Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and has not recognized Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence. The two countries share converging views on several global issues and support each other in international forums.
To mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, a commemorative stamp was jointly issued by Serbia’s Foreign Ministry and Serbia Post in December 2023. The stamp features the Victor Monument in Belgrade and the Statue of Unity in India as symbols of friendship between the two nations. (ANI)
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