Djuric: Opening strategic dialogue with US would take relations to new level

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Thursday opening a Serbia-US strategic dialogue would significantly boost the relations between the two countries and take them to a new level.

Speaking to Tanjug, Djuric said the opening of the dialogue, due in the coming days, would be an additional impetus to development of cooperation in all areas.

If this were to happen at this time, it would be an exceptional pledge for cooperation with the incoming Trump administration upon the achieved institutional foundations, introducing a certain regularity of active exchanges between ministries and institutions of the two countries that we have never had before, Djuric said.

"That is something I have also fought for years for as Serbia's ambassador to Washington," Djuric added, noting that the cooperation had been initiated years ago due to an awareness that raising the level of the relations with the US was extremely important for the pillars of the Serbian foreign policy.

"In the months to come, we will see how the nominations in the new administration go, and we would like to see Donald Trump visit Belgrade. President Aleksandar Vucic was one of the first world leaders to speak with Trump. We very much respect his policy and his attitude towards Serbia. Richard Grenell is a champion of the relations between the Balkan region and the US and a man who has identified that the economy is a chance for overcoming various conflicts," Djuric said.