"No open issues" between Serbia and Vatican - PM

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on Saturday received State Secretary of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Serbian government announced.

Brnabic is quoted as saying during the conversation that relations of Serbia and the Vatican are good and without open issues, with mutual interest in further strengthening of relations in the spirit of mutual respect, trust and tolerance.

Brnabic informed Cardinal Parolin about the current circumstances in the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina and underlined Serbia's sincere determination to continue the dialogue.

She expressed her gratitude to the State Secretary on the principled stance of the Holy See regarding the non-recognition of the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo.

Parolin informed Brnabic that the Vatican follows with special attention the situation in the region and the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, stressing that the protection of the cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo and Metohija is of utmost importance for the Council.

The interlocutors agreed that the work of the Mixed Commission on (Croatian WW2-era Catholic cleric) Alojzije Stepinac and the inter-church dialogue that came out of it, although the final decision has not yet been made, has had positive effects on the relations between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches, as well as from the point of view of the methodology, and is an important example for the study of other historical periods and personalities.

Cardinal Parolin conveyed the support of the Vatican to European integration of Serbia, adding that the European Union is basically a project of peace and coexistence of different religions and nationalities, to which Serbia and the region of the Western Balkans belong.

Prime Minister Brnabic and Cardinal Parolin concluded that there is a mutual interest in more intensive cooperation in...

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