FM says Iran backs territorial integrity of all Balkan countries

December 5, 2022 - 22:16
Serbian PM says Belgrade ready to work with Iran in areas of science, education, agriculture, and energy

TEHRAN- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has held separate meetings with senior Serbian officials, disusing issues of mutual interest.

In a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Monday, they exchanged views over bilateral and international issues. They both also called for improvement of ties. 

In another meeting on Wednesday with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, they held a discussion on how to develop bilateral cooperation in a number of areas.

Amir Abdollahian emphasized the importance of implementing the agreements that the presidents of Serbia and Iran have previously signed and voiced optimism for development of ties between Tehran and Belgrade within the framework of a road plan.

The joint commission of Iran-Serbia cooperation will have its 16th meeting in Tehran.

Amir Abdollahian expressed Tehran's willingness to host the meeting in the hopes that the commission would open the way for the improvement of ties in a number of sectors.

Amir Abdollahian also suggested strategies for increased communication between the two countries in the areas of agriculture, science, tourism, and parliamentary diplomacy.

The Serbian prime minister requested actions commensurate with the two nations' capacity in light of the fact that Iran and Serbia are celebrating the 85th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Additionally, she highlighted Serbia's readiness to work with Iran in the fields of science, education, agriculture, and energy.

During a meeting between Amir Abdollahian and Vladimir Orlic on Monday, the speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, they both called for strengthening ties.   

After a meeting with his Serbian colleague Ivica Dacic on Sunday, Amir Abdollahian told reporters in Belgrade that Iran supports the territorial integrity of all Balkan countries, including Serbia.

Amir Abdollahian emphasized the significance of growth and stability in the Balkans, adding Tehran offers its hand of friendship to all nations in that region.

He wished for the whole Balkan region's "progress, development, unification, and stability,” noting, “We offer a hand of goodwill to all the nations in that region, taking into account Iran's historical links with the Balkans.”

Amir Abdollahian said his journey to Belgrade was at his Serbian counterpart's formal request.

He said that Serbia and Iran have maintained friendly relationship and are working to strengthen it even further.

Iran’s chief diplomat pointed out that a wide variety of topics relating to bilateral, regional, and global cooperation were covered in conversations with the Serbian foreign minister.

Amir Abdollahian also said that the United States and several Western nations instigated the recent unrest in Iran in order to pressure Tehran into making concessions in the negotiations in efforts to resuscitate the 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The Iranian foreign minister highlighted that although foreigner had meddled in and taken advantage of the disturbances, the Iranian people prevailed in the "hybrid war" being conducted against them.

In yet another meeting with the Iranian ambassadors in Europe on Sunday night, Amir Abdollahian stressed that Iranian ambassadors and missions in Europe should pay special attention to issues pertaining to providing Iranian expatriates with suitable services, particularly in facilitating the provision of consular services to them.

The latest developments regarding Iran-Europe ties were discussed during the meeting in Belgrade, according to the Iranian foreign ministry. 

The top Iranian diplomat and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ambassadors exchanged views in political and economic fields while discussing regional and international developments.

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