Dacic holds bilateral meetings in Addis Ababa

BELGRADE/ADDIS ABABA - Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic had several bilateral meetings on the second day of the African Union Executive Council's session in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, including a meeting with Navtej Singh Sarna, Secretary (West) in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said in a release.

Dacic and Sarna agreed that strong political ties between the two countries should be further solidified by strengthening the economic cooperation.

For that reason, the Indian official extended an invitation for a Serbian business delegation to visit the business forum set to take place in India in August.

The two officials voiced hope that the bilateral cooperation will also be promoted in the areas of culture and tourism, and the Serbian minister thanked India for its principled stance on Kosovo-Metohija (KiM).

On the margins of the Addis Ababa event, Dacic also met with South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Emily Nkoana-Mashabane.

The South African minister stressed that Serbia has been and remained a true friend to African countries in difficult times.

The ministers agreed that the economic relations between the two countries do not reflect the strength of their political ties, and stressed that the economic cooperation should be expanded.

The South African official confirmed her country's principled position of non-recognition of the unilaterally proclaimed independence of KiM.

In Addis Ababa, Dacic also conferred with Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Amina Mohamed.

They pointed out the joint interest in improving overall bilateral relations and cooperation, particularly in the domain of economy, as...