International relations

Serbia backs SA's UN seat bid

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30 August 2010

Apart from pushing for increased cooperation in economic and social development, Serbia has announced that it will back South Africa's candidature for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2011/12 term.

This emerged following talks between International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic in Pretoria on Monday, during which the two ministers identified priority areas for cooperation between the tow countries.

"South Africa can fully count on Serbia ... we can't wait for you [South Africa] to be back in the Security Council," Jeremic told a media briefing in Pretoria after the talks on Monday.

South Africa has been canvassing for votes for its UN Security Council seat bid, with India and a number of African countries supporting it.

Elections for the Council will be held during the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York in October. If elected, South Africa will serve a second term as a non-permanent member of the council.

Social, economic development

Meanwhile, bilateral relations between South Africa and Serbia are set to advance, with both countries agreeing to cooperate further in areas of economic, commercial, education and crime fighting among others.

The two countries also have eight pending agreements in various fields, including an agreement that will deal with combating translational crimes.

Nkoana-Mashabane said Serbia was an important partner that could help the government meet its key priorities, including the creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods, education, health, rural development, food security and land reform and the fight against crime and corruption.

She said the two countries could learn a lot from one another because of political turbulence that both countries had suffered.

"Serbia is a very important ally of the of SA on the international stage, particularly with issues of reforms and UN ... We have also noted that South Africa has not taken full advantage of these strong bilateral relations and ties," she said.

Expanding bilateral cooperation

Nkoana-Mashabane was also upbeat about the advancement of their bilateral relations. She said a high-level delegation from both countries would meet to look at the opportunities that the countries' economies can offer.

Jeremic, who is on his second visit to the country – having attended President Jacob Zuma's inauguration last year – reaffirmed the need to strengthen their existing relations and further expand cooperation between the two countries.

Jeremic said there would be more high-level engagements in the near future.

South Africa and Serbia share similar values on many international issues and have supported each other's candidatures for non-permanent seats at the UNSC and on the Human Rights Council.

Besides its EU ambitions, Serbia is using all available diplomatic and legal means to continue to fight to preserve its territorial integrity over Kosovo.

Source: BuaNews