“Cooperation in sectors such as infrastructure and production capabilities has borne fruitful outcomes, with the depth, breadth, quality, and efficiency of practical collaboration continually advancing,” Xi remarked. He further added:

“Facing profound global changes unseen in a century, both parties should view their bilateral ties from a strategic, long-term vantage, staunchly supporting each other’s core interests and primary concerns, as well as their mutual paths of development.”

According to CCTV, the Chinese leader underscored China’s unwavering support for Serbia in upholding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He expressed eagerness to continue bolstering the strategic synergy with Serbia, aiming to translate their age-old friendship into more tangible cooperation outcomes.

Xi urged both nations to consistently enhance collaboration in pivotal sectors, including infrastructure, and to actively explore novel areas of partnership, encompassing the digital economy and technological innovations.

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The Free Trade Agreement was inked by Serbia’s Minister for Domestic and Foreign Trade, Tomislav Momirović, and China’s Trade Minister, Wang Wentao. The signing was witnessed by Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić and China’s President Xi Jinping.

Additionally, the two countries also penned a Memorandum on Exchange and Cooperation in Economic Development Policy, a Memorandum on the Enhancement of Industrial and Investment Cooperation between Serbia and the People’s Republic of China, and a mid-term action plan on joint construction under China’s “Belt and Road” initiative.

The Memorandum on Exchange and Cooperation in Economic Development Policy was signed by Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Siniša Mali, and the Chairman of China’s National Reform and Development Commission, Zheng Shaodjie.

The signing ceremony, attended by both presidents, also saw the presence of key Serbian government officials including Deputy Prime Ministers Ivica Dačić, Miloš Vučević, Maja Gojković, Infrastructure Minister Goran Vesić, Interior Minister Bratislav Gašić, and Serbian Ambassador to China, Maja Stefanović.

President Vučić, leading the Serbian delegation, participated in the third “Belt and Road” International Cooperation Forum, which convened leaders from over 100 countries, including Vladimir Putin.

During his visit, Vučić met with President Xi, expressing his sentiments on Instagram, “I’m profoundly honoured and privileged to be in Beijing today. Accompanied by the Serbian ministers, our presence speaks to the respect and significance of this occasion. In all sectors where we collaborate, we’re seeing progress. The Belt and Road initiative has been beneficial for our nation. I’m proud of our camaraderie and the milestones we’ve achieved. The Free Trade Agreement, which we’re signing today, heralds new horizons in our bilateral ties.” He further added, “Thank you, President Xi, for your personal dedication to strengthening the bonds between our nations and peoples.”

Photo: Tanjug/Vlada Srbije

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Ambassador Hasiyev expressed pride that Azerbaijani companies, such as AzVirt which worked on the highway, contribute to the successful momentum of the friendly Serbian economy.

“Our economic cooperation is also developing and has great potential, as evidenced by this project. These strong ties of friendship between our two countries have been tested by time and are firmly based on mutual respect for norms and principles of international law, including those related to sovereignty and territorial integrity,” concluded Hasiyev.

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“Diverse financial products have facilitated projects such as ‘Clean Serbia’ and the modernisation of telephony and internet. The acquisition of the Smederevo steelworks has revitalised the factory, while firms like Zijin, Linglong, and Hisense have, through various ventures, created 20,000 job opportunities,” Ambassador Li Ming penned in an op-ed in Politika.

He also highlighted Serbia’s 2019 membership in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and ongoing discussions between the two nations on streamlining Serbian companies’ business operations with China and bolstering financial risk resilience.

“Serbia is a pivotal partner in the Belt and Road Initiative and was among the initial signatories of the Pan-European Cooperation Agreement,” emphasized Li Ming.

Li Ming underscored that the collaboration between China and Serbia, within the Belt and Road framework, consistently adheres to the principles of mutual consultations, joint construction, and shared interests.

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The newly appointed ambassador to Europe’s oldest intergovernmental organization holds a degree from the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Belgrade, where she also completed her postgraduate studies. Throughout her career, she has held roles including Vice President of the Centre for Foreign Policy, General Secretary of the European Movement in Serbia, and positions at the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development and the G17 Institute.

From 2004 to 2012, Grubješić served as a Member of Parliament in Serbia’s National Assembly. From July 2012 to September 2013, she held the role of Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration. Later, between 2015 and 2017, she worked in the Ministry of Trade, Tourism, and Telecommunications as a Special Advisor on European Integration.

According to the government’s official website, she is fluent in English and has working proficiency in French, German, and Greek.

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In a preceding meeting, both parties concurred that the Memorandum would elevate inter-parliamentary collaboration, further strengthening the foundation for the ongoing development and enhancement of bilateral relations.

Vadimir Orlić, President of the National Assembly of Serbia, highlighted that El Halbousi’s visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Serbia and Iraq. He emphasised its historical significance, marking it as the first visit at the highest parliamentary level in the past 24 years.

Both parliamentary leaders jointly expressed commitment to the principles of international public law. El Halbousi underscored Iraq’s unwavering support for Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Both nations are keen on continuing mutual beneficial collaboration. President El Halbousi emphasised that the size and composition of his delegation indicate Iraq’s readiness to work closely with friendly Serbia. He expressed confidence that Serbia would share its vast experience in areas vital for Iraq’s further development and progress.

Special attention was given to opportunities for strengthening partnerships in sectors like economy, energy, health, agriculture, education, and specific areas of infrastructure where Iraq has shown significant advancements, as noted in the statement.

Photo: parlament.gov.rs

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This initiative is the first Serbian privately-funded nonprofit organisation based in both Belgrade and Washington, dedicated to comprehensively addressing Serbian-American relations through policy proposals, solutions, and strategies.

“In these times of cynicism, when many have lost faith, I applaud the young visionaries determined to make a difference. Both Serbia and my home country face challenges. However, our objective here isn’t to highlight issues but to explore collective solutions,” Hill remarked at the ceremony attended by Prime Minister Ana Brnabić.

Ambassador Hill emphasised that while we might act swiftly alone, together we can go further and achieve much more. Hill added that the US seeks Serbia as an ally.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t foster friendships worldwide. But by working together, we can tackle regional issues. A Europe with Serbia as a member of the European Union would be more robust, fortifying our transatlantic partnership,” Hill concluded.

Photo: Fonet/Vlada Srbije

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Ambassador H.E. Mochammad Chandra Widya Yudha played the perfect host for the evening. In his articulate speech, Ambassador Yudha eloquently touched upon the growing ties between Indonesia and Serbia. He highlighted the substantial strides the two nations have made in bilateral relations and emphasised the collaboration in trade. The Ambassador underscored the mutual benefits both nations have derived from their partnership and expressed optimism about the future of these relations, especially in the domains of trade and security cooperation.

The event was attended Serbia’s First Deputy Prime Minister, responsible for foreign policy and security and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic, along with several other prominent members of the government and the diplomatic corps.

The evening was an embodiment of friendship, cooperation, and the shared aspirations of two nations striving for a peaceful and prosperous future. As attendees mingled and discussed the promising prospects of Indonesia-Serbia relations, the atmosphere at Hotel Hyatt was one of camaraderie and mutual respect.

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In a poignant gesture, Vučić acknowledged the considerable significance of the forthcoming visit to Beijing during his meeting with the newly appointed Chinese ambassador, Li Ming. This dialogue took place amidst celebrations marking a decade since President Xi Jinping’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative was unveiled, which advocates for peace and cooperation, grounded in the principle of equality among all nations. Vučić expressed particular gratitude towards China for respecting Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, simultaneously affirming Serbia’s support for the ‘One China’ policy.

Ambassador Li reciprocated the sentiments, affirming that China perceives Serbia as a steadfast partner in Europe, with relations steadfastly built upon three pillars: strategic leadership, historical friendship, and economic cooperation.

Meanwhile, Vučić’s dialogue with Tunisia’s new ambassador, Imen Lazhili Amari, was embroidered with appreciation for Tunisia’s unwavering stance on respecting Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. He conveyed his conviction that Ambassador Amari’s tenure would significantly bolster bilateral cooperation across various sectors. In return, Amari conveyed a friendly message from President Saied and expressed her honour in representing Tunisia in Serbia, whilst voicing her hopes of enhancing overall cooperation between the two nations.

The dialogue explored several spheres with vast potential for collaboration, such as agriculture, food industry, tourism, and ICT. The ongoing negotiations concerning a Free Trade Agreement were identified as a catalyst to further these developments.

In a similar vein, the discourse with the newly appointed Indian ambassador, Shubdarshini Tripathi, reflected Serbia’s staunch commitment to advancing its comprehensive cooperation with India. Vučić warmly welcomed the active engagement of Indian companies in Serbia and expressed anticipation that their success would inspire others to identify Serbia as a lucrative investment destination. His gratitude towards India for its principled support in maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia was palpably evident.

Ambassador Tripathi, on her part, communicated her resolve to elevate Indo-Serbian friendship to newer heights, acknowledging the enormous potential for collaboration in areas like pharmaceuticals, the IT sector, film industry, and beyond.

These encounters encapsulate Serbia’s deft diplomatic engagements, manoeuvring through multifaceted relationships and potential collaborations with these countries, each possessing a distinct geopolitical significance in Serbia’s external affairs strategy.

Photo: Predsedništvo Srbije/ facebook/buducnostsrbijeavucic

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Romanian Ambassador to Serbia Silvia Davidoiu speaks enthusiastically about the strengthening of economic cooperation between the two countries. Speaking in this interview for CorD Magazine, she says that she is looking forward to the next few years. “I expect the fruition of our ambitious, long-planned strategic connectivity projects, and the launching of new partnerships in the agriculture, IT and energy sectors”. And this cooperations is set to be crowned with the construction of a motorway that will reduce travel times between Belgrade and Timișoara to just one hour.

Your Excellency, as the Ambassador of a country that enjoys a high level of understanding and cooperation with Serbia at the political level, you often mention the various possibilities of advancing bilateral economic cooperation. Could you cite progress achieved in this area over the past two years?

– Economic cooperation has substantial potential to further our countries’ growth, having a direct impact on the wellbeing of our citizens and the substance of our bilateral relations. Moreover, it provides a comprehensive vision and additional means to further develop our ties.

One short answer to your question refers to the formal agreements on transport connectivity (e.g., the Timisoara-Belgrade highway/expressway), positive developments in bilateral trade, with a total value surpassing €2.6 billion in 2022, and new initiatives on energy security, aside from the Arad-Mokrin gas interconnector. Over the past two years, we have also diversified our presence on the Serbian market with additional domains (apart from industry) attracting Romanian entrepreneurs. As an example, during this period, Instant Factoring, a Romanian company in the fintech sector, has offered innovative and accessible financing solutions to Serbian SMEs. In April 2023, we also organised a business forum as a preliminary step towards new, regular B2B meetings between Romanian and Serbian companies (operating in the agriculture, energy, construction, industry, ITC and other sectors), aimed at strengthening bilateral economic relations through mutual investments and exchanges. We are committed to implementing all these projects and count on the Serbian side’s engagement in this regard. We are active in some of the economic areas that are most relevant to Serbia’s comprehensive security and sustainable development.

I look forward to the next few years. I expect the fruition of our ambitious, long-planned strategic connectivity projects, as well as the launch of new partnerships in agriculture, IT and energy – all sectors that are expanding in Romania, in Romania, possibly with an external expansion outlook. To give you an example, with my country currently exploring offshore gas reserves, implementing SMR technologies for nuclear power and capitalising the investments of top Romanian players in renewables, I expect my country to consolidate its position as a net energy provider for the region, including Serbia.

How do Romania and Serbia utilise the European Union funds that are provided through the IPA funding mechanism to improve cross-border cooperation?

– Cross-border cooperation between Romania and Serbia, with the support of IPA funds, has a long history of successful partnerships. In the 2014- 2020 programming period alone, 84 projects were contracted, representing 99.98% of the programme budget, with an absorption rate in excess of 95%. This impressive track record encourages us to believe that this IPA instrument will continue to forge new forms of collaboration between our countries.

Cross-border cooperation between Romania and Serbia, with the support of IPA funds, has a long history of successful partnerships. In the 2014-2020 programming period alone, 84 projects were contracted

As for the 2021-2027 period, the Interreg IPA Romania-Serbia Programme counwas the first of its type to be adopted by the European Commission. It focuses on promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and all forms of pollution, improving equal access to inclusive and quality services in education and health, enhancing the role of culture and sustainable tourism in furthering economic development, and increasing border management capacity. Climate and energy objectives receive 35% of the total allocation of the IPA Interreg Romania-Serbia Programme in the 2021-2027 cycle, as a direct contribution to the European Green Deal and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. Moreover, 52% of the Programme’s financial package is dedicated to projects of strategic importance and large infrastructure projects in the fields of healthcare, border management, risk management and emergency situation response.

We are seeing EU accession enthusiasm waning in Serbia, with many believing that this is due to the slowness of the integration process. Serbia has opened only slightly more than half of the accession negotiation chapters, despite the process having started more than a decade ago. It was almost two years ago that the last cluster was opened, which is also when you arrived in Serbia. Does such a tempo contradict the messages coming from the EU about a strong new commitment to the expansion of the bloc to encompass the Western Balkans?

– The EU’s commitment to the European perspective of the Western Balkans is firm and unabated, as reiterated in the European Commission President’s State of the Union Address on 13th September. However, the pace of negotiations depends entirely on candidate countries fulfilling the necessary criteria, particularly on the fundamentals.

EU accession is a two-way street, with regard to the EU’s capacity and willingness to accept new members benchand candidate countries’ consistent and measurable efforts to meet clearly- defined benchmarks. This has been a constant feature, regardless of the revisions of the process conducted over previous years.

On the one hand, the messages from the EU and its Member States clearly testify to the first track of this process being open and unobstructed for those Western Balkan and Eastern European countries that fulfil the accession criteria. That represents encouragement for these partners to internalise European values and principles in their entirety. Three more counwas tries were granted EU candidate status over the past year, including one from this region. The process is therefore advancing and the messages do match the actions.

On the other hand, the second track of European integration relates to their merit-based quality and it is thus the sole responsibility of candidates and potential candidates to determine the pace of reform. This implies that, by the time of accession, these countries should be strategically aligned with the EU and fully harmonised with the acquis, including when it comes to respect for fundamental rights and compliance with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. This is a key aspect that ensures the sustainability of political and economic partnerships with candidate and potential candidate countries, creating the conditions for a strengthened EU.

The statement of the President of the European Council regarding some countries of our region being possibly admitted into the EU in 2030 garnered a lot of negative comments in Brussels. Can we continue to take the enlargement process seriously without specific dates for the next round of enlargement?

– Charles Michel’s recent reference to the bloc’s readiness to accept new members is firstly a confirmation that enlargement remains a top priority for the EU over the coming years. It is also encouragement for candidates to increase the tempo of key reforms in order to secure solid and irreversible achievements that are in line with each partner’s relationship with the EU, in a dynamic and merit-based approach. It therefore represents an appeal for active and consistent engagement on all sides for the new enlargement of the EU. The President of the European Council was explicit in his speech in Bled about the imperative of ensuring the process remains credible. This is dependent on the EU’s openness to continue the enlargement process, but also on candidates’ fulfilment of necessary benchand marks. Again, the twin-track approach of advancing on the basis of merit remains in place, so there is consistency in messaging, just as we are on the same page in our understanding that Western Balkan (and Eastern European) states belong within the Union. Whether we manage to meet this mutual goal within a specific timeframe depends on all of us. We all need to take the process seriously in order to make EU integration happen and to keep it within the lines of a successful policy for the transformative effect on candidates and potential candidates and the bloc’s internal coherence and external appeal and action.

The messages from the EU and its Member States clearly testify to the first track of this process being open and unobstructed for those Western Balkan and Eastern European countries that fulfil the accession criteria

There are frequent calls coming from within the EU that encourage Serbia to change its stance on Kosovo, but also the EU Member States that have chosen not to recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. Will Romania maintain its stance on this issue? — First, allow me to offer a few clarifications: we have not experienced any calls or pressure to change our stance regarding the status of Kosovo. The interactions we have had with third parties on this topic were more in line with evaluating our position in the context of our common renewed interest in firmly advancing the dialogue and reconciliation between Belgrade and Pristina. This is an approach that we welcome and encourage in an effort to dispel any misunderstanding.

Romania has a consistent and principled position on the non-recognition of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence. We maintain a constructive approach on the issue, without prejudice to our national position. It is the primary responsibility of Belgrade and Pristina to reach a comprehensive and definitive solution. My country joined the efforts of the EU and other relevant actors in supporting the normalisation process through result-oriented negotiations between the two parties.

Romania reasserts its full support for the EU-mediated Political Dialogue, which represents the only adequate framework to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina. Against the backdrop of persistent tension, the two sides need to reengage in this framework to identify a solution that reflects their respective interests and contributes to the peace and stability of the region, with full respect for all agreements reached to date in the EU-facilitated dialogue process.

Are you satisfied with the status and treatment of members of the ethnic Romanian community in Serbia?

– Our respective national minorities have anchored our relations in a state of mutual respect and good neighbourliness, despite the changes experienced by our countries in recent history. They are also a source of constant enrichment for our historic ties and provide a reference point to the quality of the overall Romanian- Serbian dialogue. We cherish this outstanding bond and remain constructive, open and transparent in our support for the rights of those belonging to our ethnic minorities.

Romania’s constant interest in the preservation of the cultural ethos of its national minority, its mother tongue and religious identity, is consistent with European standards in this field, which are crucial for a democratic society.

Serbs in Romania enjoy all the rights stipulated by the relevant international documents: parliamentary representation, education, religious services and media in their native language. They are active in local administrations and provide an important contribution to our society. We would like to see all citizens that identify as Romanian in Serbia fully enjoying the rights provided by the national legislation and international documents signed by the state, and provided by requirements on the EU accession path.

Differences nonetheless persist, with Romanians in Eastern Serbia having restricted access to education, media and religious services in their mother tongue, as well as limited representation in local and national administration, in contrast to those residing in Vojvodina. These issues should be substantively tackled within the framework of the Romanian- Serbian Joint Intergovernmental Commission for National Minorities, the third protocol of which is currently being negotiated.

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The Berlin process, as well as the Franco- German proposal for the final normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, should be interpreted as Germany’s contribution to accelerating the process that ought to lead to Serbia’s EU accession, says German Ambassador Anke Konrad in this interview for CorD Magazine. She adds that economic cooperation between the two countries remains at a high level, as does interest in entering Serbia among German companies.

“Of course, the business environment needs to be fair and lawful,” insists Ambassador Konrad, before noting that “the most recent business survey of the German Chamber of Commerce in Serbia, conducted in 2023, has testified that factors like the availability of qualified workers, the fight against corruption, political and social stability, as well as the transparency of public tenders, have an important impact on the productivity of existing investments, as well as decisions on future ones. It is therefore crucial to continue working to ensure a level playing field for all players in the business sphere.”

Your Excellency, when you arrived in Serbia a year ago, your initial message was that Serbia is an important partner to Germany. Has anything changed in the meantime when it comes to relations between Berlin and Belgrade?

– Relations between Berlin and Belgrade are close and will remain so. Through my first year in Serbia, we have continued our cooperation on a broad range of bilateral issues, as well as on global challenges like, for instance, climate change. The Berlin Process, created in 2014, has taken a big step forward with the conclusion of four mobility agreements that will contribute to furthering cooperation and exchange among all Western Balkan countries mutually, as well as with their European partners. We look forward to the next summit in Tirana, on 16th October, which should open up new avenues for this cooperation.

With the Franco-German proposal, Berlin and Paris have provided an important contribution to agreements reached in Brussels and Ohrid at the beginning of this year to further the normalisation of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. We also see our engagement in all these areas as our contribution to advancing Serbia on its journey to membership in the European Union and we will continue our support.

German media recently received a letter in which several Western politicians, including Michael Roth, Chair of the Bundestag Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the ruling SPD, allegedly call on the EU and the U.S. to distance themselves from Serbia and support the Kosovo government over current events unfolding in the north of the province. The letter includes a call to “learn from our past and ensure that we do not pursue Belgrade-centric policies in the Balkans”. Is this the personal position of Mr Roth or is he actually announcing a change to German foreign policy?

– The role of the German Foreign Affairs Committee is to monitor and evaluate our foreign policy. The committee may provide the government with advice and recommendations on foreign policy, stemming from discussions and analyses that take place there.

The Ohrid Agreement, is an important and responsible step towards normalisation that we support and which must now be implemented by both sides without additional conditions

The letter therefore represents an impetus for public debate and does not signify a change in German foreign policy. Our position remains clear: the future of the Western Balkan countries lies in the European Union. To this end, Serbia and Kosovo will have to take important steps toward one another. They confirmed their willingness to do so six months ago in Ohrid – the task for both sides now is to implement those commitments.

In your statements given to media here in Serbia, you refuted the claim that Germany “supports only one side” in Kosovo. To which side do you attribute responsibility for the latest escalation of problems in the north of Kosovo?

– We have a situation between Serbia and Kosovo that is not sustainable and that has been depriving both countries, and the people who live there, of many development prospects for many years. The basic agreement, namely the Ohrid Agreement, with which both sides agreed earlier this year to further normalise their relations, is therefore an important and responsible step that we support and which must now be implemented by both sides without additional conditions.

It is now the responsibility of both sides to conduct and continue the dialogue on the implementation of Ohrid seriously and constructively, and to take concrete steps. We should always bear in mind that the normalisation of these relations is, first and foremost, about the future of the people of the two countries, as well as the future of the entire Western Balkan region.

Late June saw German company Hansgrohe open its new plant in Valjevo, announcing work for as many as 100 workers. Does this serve to confirm that German investors are still interested in investing in Serbia?

– Yes, interest in investing in Serbia remains high among German companies, including investments in the expansion of existing companies or the diversification of their portfolio. I would like to emphasise that these investments lead not only to the creation of additional workplaces, but also highly qualified ones, creating new prospects for specialists, also in the IT sector. By setting new standards with regard to working conditions, dual education, environmental protection or energy consumption, German companies contribute directly to Serbia’s EU accession path.

By setting new standards with regard to working conditions, dual education, environmental protection or energy consumption, German companies contribute directly to Serbia’s EU accession path

Of course, the business environment needs to be fair and just. The most recent business survey of the German Chamber of Commerce in Serbia, conducted in 2023, testified that factors like the availability of qualified workers, the fight against corruption, political and social stability, as well as the transparency of public tenders, have an important impact on the productivity of existing investments, as well as decisions on future ones.

It is therefore crucial to continue working to ensure a level playing field for all players in the business sphere.

Germany is viewed from within Serbia as an EU member state that strongly supports expansion of the Union to encompass the countries of the Western Balkans. Given the current pace at which this process is unfolding – not only in the case of Serbia, but also with Montenegro and particularly North Macedonia – does any basis exist to believe that expansion is a realistic option in the near future and on what does that depend?

– The enlargement of the EU remains our goal. This includes Serbia, as well as all other countries of the Western Balkans. That’s why we continue to support Serbia’s efforts on this challenging path. And that’s why we are simultaneously also working on the future of the EU.

Will the German public support the government’s initiative to significantly ease the procedure for obtaining citizenship, including the option of dual citizenship, which is a topic of interest to a large number of German citizens with Serbian roots who do not yet have a permanent status solution?

– With the reform of the German citizenship law, the federal government intends to create a modern immigration law that reflects the diversity of our society and modern country. The draft law envisages that, in the future, foreigners who are able to make a living for themselves will be able to apply for naturalisation after only five years resident in Germany. Moreover, they will not have to give up their original citizenship. Of course, this would also benefit Serbian citizens who have lived in Germany for a very long time and who are well integrated. The draft law will have to pass the German Bundestag, and therefore might be subject to change following discussions between the members of the parliament. It is not yet clear when the new law might enter into force.

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Ambassador Anke Konrad, taking the mantle with pride, expressed her gratitude to all attendees for sharing in this ceremonial occasion and emphasised the significance of bolstering bilateral ties between Germany and Serbia.

The celebration, held at the Belgrade Youth Centre, saw a gathering of Serbia’s political and social luminaries. Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, leading opposition figures, as well as dignitaries from the diplomatic community, business sector, NGOs, and media, collectively paid tribute to this significant anniversary.

The German Unity Day, celebrated on the 3rd of October, stands as a testament to overcoming divisions, symbolising the fall of the Berlin Wall. This event, which transpired on the 9th of November 1989, marked a watershed moment, ushering in a fresh chapter for Europe, liberating it from the shackles of communism.

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The event saw an impressive turnout, with approximately 150 attendees gracing the occasion. Among the distinguished guests were notable figures from the diplomatic circle, representatives of international organisations, luminaries from Serbia’s cultural and public spheres, as well as Korean expatriates.

Ambassador H.E. Jaewoong LEE was at the forefront, representing the Republic of Korea. His presence underscored the importance of the event and symbolised the deepening ties between Serbia and Korea, showcasing the mutual respect and camaraderie shared between the two nations.

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Willy Brandt was the first chancellor of the then Federal Republic of Germany, aka West Germany, to pay an official visit to the Yugoslav capital, arriving in Belgrade 28 years after the end of World War II. The visit, including an official part that lasted four days, encompassed talks in Belgrade, followed by a stay in the Brioni islands, where meetings and talks were held with Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito. According to the recollections of Tito’s personal translator for German, Ivan Ivanji, Tito was “fond of that German”. According to the Memoirs of Willy Brandt himself, he appreciated the politics of the Yugoslav president, who was 20 years his senior.

This wasn’t Brandt’s first visit to Yugoslavia, nor was it his first meeting with its president. Over the preceding two and a half decades, Brandt had followed the development of Yugoslavia studiously. As a socialist and anti-fascist by political and ideological orientation, a man formed in a social democratic milieu, with the experience of having lived in exile in Scandinavia during the period of Nazi rule and residing in Spain at the height of the civil war with the aim of supporting the doomed republic, Brandt became interested in Yugoslavia as a socialist experiment after the 1948 Tito-Stalin split and the Informbiro period. As a representative of the Social Democratic Party of Germany in West Berlin after World War II and later mayor of West Berlin (1957–1966), Brandt was interested in the development of Yugoslavia as a potential model for the transformation of East German society. And so it was that Brandt first travelled to Yugoslavia in 1955, though the prevailing anti-communist sentiment in West Germany meant that the trip unfolded in almost total secrecy. During his stay in Yugoslavia, Brandt took an interest in the system of workers’ self-management, the “Yugoslav road to socialism” and the Yugoslav interpretation of Marxism. However, his subsequent trips to Yugoslavia, in the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1968 and Federal Chancellor in 1973, had a different political weight and function.

The issue of German reunification had been a central political issue for both German states since their 1949 creation. The West German governments of Konrad Adenauer (1949–1963) and Ludwig Erhard (1963–1966), both representatives of the Christian Democratic Union, pursued a policy of gradual sovereignty through Western integration, in the belief that negotiations with the East could only be led from a position of strength. They led a policy of non-recognition of the East German state, doctrinally defined in the so-called Hallstein Doctrine. According to it, recognition of the German Democratic Republic, aka East Germany, by third countries would be considered by the Government in Bonn as a “hostile act”. And Yugoslavia, which since the early 1950s had only maintained diplomatic relations with the West German state, recognised East Berlin in 1957 and thus sacrificed its diplomatic relations with Bonn.

The new Bonn government demonstrated its readiness to accept the burden of responsibility for its own history, but also to lay foundations for the future. It was precisely in the context of the new Eastern policy that his 1973 visit to Yugoslavia was significant

Brandt wasn’t the only representative of political life in West Germany who was strongly opposed to this political doctrine. He believed that the policy of strength and isolation would only lead to detachment between the Germans living to the east and west of the Elbe, with this policy aimed at German reunification only leading down a blind alley. The construction of the Berlin Wall was merely the physical manifestation of this state of affairs. As an alternative, Brandt proposed “change through rapprochement” (Wandel durch Annährung). His “policy of small steps” (Politik der kleinen Schritte) was intended to render the Berlin Wall porous. He believed in the attractiveness of the West, that individual contacts – the “flow” of people and goods, and with them ideas – would inevitably influence internal change in the societies behind the “Iron Curtain”. It was in this context that Brandt also saw the development of Yugoslavia as an example of the transformation of a socialist society through contact with the West. Brandt received a chance to at least partially implement his policy in 1966, when he was appointed minister of foreign affairs in the coalition government formed with the Christian Democratic Union. The so-called “new eastern policy” (Neue Ostpolitik) also led to the restoring of diplomatic relations between West Germany and Yugoslavia in January 1968.

However, while previous years had seen Bonn take only timid tiptoe steps towards rapprochement with the East, Brandt’s 1969 arrival in the position of chancellor marked a complete turnaround in West German foreign policy and German policy. The key result on this front was the signing of the so-called Eastern treaties (Ostverträge) with Moscow, Warsaw, East Berlin and Prague, with which the Government in Bonn ruled out any use of force and recognised the de facto existence of the German Democratic Republic and the Polish-German border on the Oder-Neisse line. Dropping to his knees in front of the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes in Warsaw and the whole watching world in 1970, Brandt made a symbolic gesture of repentance on behalf of the German people for the crimes of the Nazi regime. At the same time, his treaties with Eastern European countries testified to his decisiveness to lead a policy of compromise and the easing of tensions. In other words, the new Bonn government demonstrated its readiness to accept the burden of responsibility for its own history, but also to lay foundations for the future. It was precisely in the context of the new Eastern policy that his 1973 visit to Yugoslavia was significant.

During his talks with Tito in Brioni, the West German chancellor himself raised the issue of compensation, stressing that it was an open problem that needed to be discussed openly

There was undisguised fondness for the new West German chancellor in Yugoslavia. Over the course of the two decades preceding Brandt’s arrival at the helm of the government in Bonn, Yugoslav representatives in West Germany had maintained close contacts with social democratic leaders. Although Yugoslav communists and German social democrats had no ideological affiliations, they still managed to find common ground on issues that were vital to the future of Germany, but also to the security of Yugoslavia. In Belgrade, Brandt was considered a man made of a different political cloth than Adenauer and his associates. It was noted that Brandt was an anti-fascist, which had special gravitas in the context of the complex negative legacy of Yugoslav-German relations and the ideological orientation of the Yugoslav authorities. Brandt’s arrival as head of West German diplomacy was welcomed with great optimism in Belgrade. This also explains Belgrade’s willingness to restore diplomatic relations with Bonn without any preconditions, in terms of demanding the resolving numerous bilateral issues accumulated over the preceding years. However, restoring relations was just the first step. Unresolved issues had yet to be remedied.

While Yugoslavia could serve as a model of socialist transformation for Brandt the socialist and mayor, for Brandt the statesman, visiting Yugoslavia meant getting to grips with the extremely difficult legacy of German-Yugoslav relations. The central issue burdening relations was that of compensation for Yugoslavia’s victims of Nazi persecution. This issue represented a crucial obstacle in the rapprochement of Belgrade and Bonn for more than a decade. It had both economic and moral dimensions. During his talks with Tito in Brioni, the West German chancellor himself raised the issue of compensation, stressing that it was an open problem that needed to be discussed openly. Brandt emphasised that West Germany could no longer return to the past, while at the same time it couldn’t simply ignore its history or “sweep it under the rug”. The West German side offered capital assistance in the form of a loan totalling one billion Deutschemarks, and the Yugoslav side accepted to consider the issue closed with this indirect solution – albeit without explicitly mentioning compensation, so as not to set a precedent for other Eastern European countries.

During his time in Yugoslavia, Brandt also visited the National Library in Belgrade. In presenting a gift to the Library in the form of a consignment of replacement books for those that had perished in the German bombing of 6th April, 1941, Brandt made a symbolic gesture of repentance on behalf of the German people for the devastation wrought during World War II. With the Brioni “Gentlemen’s Agreement” between Tito and Brandt, the two sides agreed to lay to rest open and painful problems from the past through a stake in the future, in the form of long-term arrangements to cooperate in various fields.

By Natalija Dimić Lompar, Photos: Museum of Yougoslavia

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