Foreign relations of Serbia
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Due to the Montenegrin independence referendum from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be inherited, along with all of its holdings, by the Republic of Serbia. Montenegro will be represented at Serbian embassies and consulates in countries in which Montenegro has not established a formal diplomatic presence. The governments of the two countries expressed an interest in pursuing a common foreign policy.
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[edit] Serbia and the EU
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For more details on this topic, see Accession of Serbia to the European Union.
Serbia has signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union on 29 April 2008 and is to seek the status of a candidate country to join the EU once the national parliament has ratified the SAA.
[edit] Serbia and its neighbours
Multilateral regional co-operation falls within the priorities of foreign policy and international relations of Serbia as an instrument and substance of our co-operation with the neighbours in the region as well as within the context of the Serbia inclusion in European integrations, Euro-Atlantic structures and EU.
In the context of Serbia inclusion in multilateral economic and political relations and integrations as well as in the context of globalization, the relations and co-operation of regional character are of importance in the field of liberalization of trade and further affirmation of market economy and free trade. In that respect, the efforts to turn the region of South Eastern Europe into a free trade zone in which Serbia is actively participating through bilateral negotiations with neighbours and in the region (free trade agreements with Macedonia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as negotiations with Croatia, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Albania), are of particular importance. Serbia enjoys relatively good relations with its neighbouring countries. The border with Bosnia-Herzegovina along the Drina River continues to be an issue, whilst the issue of independence for Kosovo is of particular concern to Serbia.
[edit] Serbia and the Middle East
Serbia enjoys good relations with the Middle East, these are inherited by the independent Serbia from its time as hub of a federation (ie. Yugoslavia) which were very strong from times of the Non-Aligned Movement during the 1960's. Israel, UAE and Egypt are important economic partners with Serbia, as Israel invests in the Serbian construction industry and Egypt is a large market for Zastava automobiles. Serbia also has an important security agreement with Iran [1] , who is also an important economical and political partner for Serbia. Serbia also maintains diplomatic relations with the Palestinian National Authority. Serbia also wishes to intensify relations with the CCASG countries, namely Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.
[edit] Serbia and East Asia
Serbia has excellent relations with countries such as the People's Republic of China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. These four countries are important economical partners for Serbia in Asia. China has always traditionally had very warm and close relations with Belgrade since the establishing of diplomatic relations in 1955 [2]. Indonesia also has very close relations with Serbia, especially within the fields of trade, culture and tourism. Indonesia has also voiced support for Serbia's territorial integrity over the Kosovo issue [3].
Entry to Malaysia was refused to all Serbian passport holders until 2007, unless they were in possession of a letter of approval from Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs. [4] Citizens of Serbia, Montenegro and Israel are still banned from participating in Malaysia My Second Home program. [5]
[edit] Serbia and Africa
Ever since the times of Tito and the Non-Aligned Movement, Serbia has enjoyed excellent relations with African nations. South Africa is Serbia's closest ally in Africa and the two nations have had excellent relations since the signing of diplomatic relations in 1992 following the end of the Apartheid system. South Africa is also home to around 20 000 Serbs mainly living in the Johannesburg area [6]. South Africa is also voicing support for Serbia over the Kosovo issue[7] . Nelson Mandela has also been made an honorary citizen of Belgrade [8]. Many of the North African countries (Algeria, Libya, Tunisia and Morocco) enjoy good relations with Serbia and are important trading partners. Tunisia is a hugely popular tourist destination for Serbs as there is no visa required for Serb nationals entering the country. Serbia is also actively involved in many investments in Angola with whom it has excellent political and economic relations.
[edit] Kosovo
- See also: Serbia's reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
- See also: International reaction to the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence
On February 17, 2008, leaders of the province of Kosovo and Metohija declared unilateral independence from Serbia, forming the Republic of Kosovo in the process. Serbia, supported by Russia, China, Spain, and other nations, does not recognize the breakaway province as an independent state and it has vowed to fight Kosovo's admission to international organizations. As of June 2008, the Republic of Kosovo does not have U.N. membership.
Serbia, in response to nations which have recognized Kosovo as an independent nation, has consistently recalled its ambassadors to these nations in an act of protest.[9] These countries who have recognized include the United States, Albania, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
[edit] See also
- List of Ambassadors from Serbia
- Serbian diplomatic missions
- List of Ambassadors to Serbia
- Foreign relations of Serbia and Montenegro
[edit] References
- ^ Iran Daily
- ^ Foreign Relations of the People's Republic of China
- ^ English People's Daily (China)
- ^ "Star Alliance Visa Information", Star Alliance. Retrieved 26 Aug 2007.
- ^ "Malaysia My Second Home", Immigration Department of Malaysia. Retrieved 28 Aug 2007.
- ^ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Serbia
- ^ Serbs Say South Africans sympathetic over Kosovo
- ^ Nelson Mandela named Belgrade's honorary citizen
- ^ PROTEST CONVEYED TO FRANCE, BRITAIN, COSTA RICA, AUSTRALIA, ALBANIA
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