Special envoy Khaji was pleased to be visiting Serbia for the first time, a country which enjoys traditionally good and friendly relations with Iran, particularly in view of their involvement in the Non-Aligned Movement which may, with the newly-defined goals, take an important place in the modern world. He said that this year Iran is to assume chairmanship over the Non-Aligned Movement, adding his firm belief that, at the organisation’s next Summit, Serbia would be represented at the highest level. Khaji spoke of the good bilateral relations between Serbia and Iran and the considerable potential for their improvement, particularly considering Serbia’s importance in the Western Balkans region and Iran’s importance in the Middle East. Both sides noted the need to continue parliamentary cooperation, primarily at the level of parliamentary friendship groups. The officials also agreed that the current economic cooperation can be improved, and commercial cooperation can be raised to a higher level considering the two countries’ potential, adding the need to promote cultural, scientific and especially educational exchange between Serbia and Iran. Envoy Khaji deemed that Serbia and Iran enjoy good political relations which are currently burdened by the sanctions the European Union instated on Iran.

The Chair of the First Sitting of the National Assembly Zaharije Trnavcevic announced that the constituting sitting of the National Assembly would be continued on 23 July and the new Speaker, deputy speakers and other officials would promote parliamentary cooperation and speed up the creation of parliamentary friendship group with Iran. He expressed hope that the formation of the new Government would open up room for an improvement in the cooperation between Serbia and Iran, with a special focus on increasing the scope of economic cooperation. Trnavcevic deemed that the Iranian economy can be a significant partner to Serbia, just as Serbia and its expertise may prove attractive to Iranian companies.

The meeting between the Chair of the First Sitting of the National Assembly and the special envoy of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran was attended by the Deputy Director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Directorate General for North and South Europe Majid Nili Ahmadabadi and the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Belgrade Abolghasem Delfi.