Serbia Pursues Closer Relationship with ASEAN

(28-05-2013)

H.E. Jovan Jovanović, presented his Letter of Credence as Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to ASEAN to H.E. Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of ASEAN last week.

SG Minh welcomed the accreditation of Ambassador Jovanović and expressed appreciation to the desire of the Government of the Republic of Serbia to strengthen friendly relations and cooperation with ASEAN and ASEAN Member States. He further reassured Ambassador Jovanović that he and the ASEAN Secretariat stands ready to further promoting the relationship. He suggested exploring practical cooperation in the fields that Serbia has expertise and interest for mutual benefits, which would also serve as the foundation for closer relationship.

Ambassador Jovanović stated that the Government of Serbia regards ASEAN as an important Organisation, which plays increasingly important role in the region and beyond. He informed that his accreditation to ASEAN is the important first step and that pursuing closer relationship with ASEAN is consistent with Serbia’s foreign policy principles and goals, as well as with its intention to deepen all-round cooperation with ASEAN Member States.

Ambassador Jovanović reiterated the desired of the Republic of Serbia to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and expressed the readiness to promote the principles of the TAC beyond the region of Southeast Asia because it considers them as universal values for governing inter-state relations.