Gojkovic thanked the Republic of Madagascar for its consistent stance on Serbia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty stressing that Serbia appreciates that fact that it had not voted against its interest at the UNESCO General Assembly.

Gojkovic informed the Malagasy National Assembly Speaker about Serbia cultural heritage in Kosovo-Metohija and the state of the churches, monasteries and cultural monuments, a lot of which have been desecrated.

The National Assembly Speaker said that the good and friendly relations between the two states date back to Madagascar’s fight for independence and that for over 30 years there have been no high level visits, adding her firm belief that Speaker Rakotomamonjy’s visit would open a new chapter of relations, which is the parliament’s chief task as a representative body of the citizens.

Rakotomamonjy said that the two countries’ close relations were built back in the times when Madagascar gained independence in 1960 and of the Non-Aligned Movement, and the goal of today’s visit is to strengthen these relations, as will be the coming visit of the President of the Republic of Madagascar to Serbia.

Rakotomamonjy said that the two nations share the same values and Madagascar understands the challenges Serbia is faced with and in that context condemns the desecration of Serbian cultural heritage in Kosovo-Metohija.

“Our two nations share the same values and it is our duty and the duty of the parliaments that represent our people to advance these relations”, said Rakotomamonjy stating that he was sure the Serbian people are supporting the Malagasy people who are also going through a number of difficulties.

Rakotomamonjy stressed the importance of developing economic cooperation and invited Serbian businesspeople to invest into Madagascar which has ample energy, mining, agricultural and touristic potential, in view of it recently passing laws that guarantee security of foreign investments, as well as the Law on Public-Private Partnership which enables investments into infrastructural projects.

Gojkovic and Rakotomamonjy agreed that the two parliaments could cooperate more, especially in international organizations such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Le Francophonie, which Madagascar presides over this year, and through consultation the two delegations can come up with common stances of mutual benefit.

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Madagascar invited the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia to pay a return visit, which Gojkovic thanked him for, mentioning that it would be an opportunity to sign a cooperation agreement.

Click to watch the two speakers’ press conference: