June 25, Pozirk. Consultations between the Belarusian and Serbian foreign ministries on June 24 in Minsk highlighted mutual interest in expanding ties, the Belarusian foreign ministry reports.
Deputy Foreign Minister Ihar Siakreta and Damjan Jović, state secretary at Serbia’s foreign ministry, led their respective delegations. Jović also met Foreign Minister Maksiam Ryžankoŭ ahead of the talks, which focused on economic cooperation as well as global and regional issues, according to the Belarusian side.
Two days ago, a Serbian delegation led by Nenad Popović, who serves as minister without portfolio in the Serbian government, participated in the 13th meeting of the bilateral intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation. The delegation visited the Minsk Automobile Plant, the National Football Stadium and the Minsk Diocese of the Belarusian Orthodox Church.
Last month, Alaksandar Łukašenka met with Serbian Ambassador Ilina Vukajlović in Minsk to question her about Serbia’s foreign policies.
One year ago, the Belarusian ruler invited Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to visit Minsk. He also expressed support “in matters of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia.”
Serbia is a candidate for membership in the European Union. In 2021, Belgrade joined EU sanctions against Minsk; after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it supported the next packages of restrictions. At the end of January 2022, the Belarusian government extended its retaliatory food embargo to Serbia.
Minsk officially views Serbia as an “unfriendly” state due to its support for EU sanctions on Belarus.
