Prime Minister Ana Brnabić stated today that our country does not aspire to NATO membership, but wants to maintain dialogue and cooperation, emphasising that Serbia especially appreciates the position of that organisation on full respect for our military neutrality.

At the opening of the 101^st Rose-Roth Seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly "Euro-Atlantic Integration, Partnership for Peace and Further Steps in Facing the Remaining Challenges in the Western Balkans" held in the Serbian Parliament, Brnabic pointed out that Serbia is building the position of a responsible and reliable partner of NATO.

She assessed that the cooperation between our country and that alliance in the past period was good.

The Prime Minister stated that Serbia, in cooperation with NATO, has successfully implemented more than 40 projects, emphasising that she was especially satisfied with the implementation of the project aimed at the new generation of carbon-based batteries, which will not contain lithium.

Speaking about regional cooperation, the Prime Minister emphasised that peace and security in the region are a basic condition for the progress of each country, but also for the entire region.

Any instability in any part affects the entire region, Brnabić said, adding that Serbia values ​​its neighbours and consistently respects the policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of neighbouring countries.

She assessed that the "Open Balkans" Initiative represents a chance for the region in the form of strengthening infrastructure, freedom of movement of people, goods, capital and services, but she also noted that this initiative is not a substitute for European integration.

The Prime Minister sent an invitation to all those in the Balkans who did not join the "Open Balkans", including Pristina, to join, noting that the invitation is constantly open and that the citizens of the countries in the region will benefit incredibly from this initiative.

Brnabić emphasised that Serbia provides full support to North Macedonia and Albania for obtaining a date for the start of negotiations with the EU, because they more than deserved it.

In talks with EU partners, we always emphasise that it is in the interest of the region's prosperity that these countries get a date for the start of negotiations as soon as possible, but it is also extremely important that the EU works with Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure that it is not neglected either.

Speaking about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, the Prime Minister pointed out that Serbs in the province face security risks on a daily basis, and that since the beginning of this year, 115 ethnically motivated attacks and nine incursions of special police units in northern Kosovo and Metohija have been recorded.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the fact that Visoki Dečani is ranked among the seven most endangered sites of Europe's cultural heritage is especially devastating.

She emphasised that she did not see readiness for dialogue in Priština, which is evidenced by the growing number of attacks on Serbs and the fact that Priština will not fulfil the Brussels agreement.

It is unreasonable to expect that we will go to negotiations on another agreement, and that Priština did not fulfil the Brussels agreement, after so many years since the signing, the Prime Minister estimated.

The Prime Minister stated that Serbia has unresolved issues from the past, but that it is focused on the future and on maintaining peace.

www.srbija.gov.rs

Foto: Tanjug

Prime Minister Ana Brnabić stated today that severe examples of endangering the Serbian cultural, historical and spiritual heritage in Kosovo and Metohija are proof of the important role of UNESCO in protecting and preserving heritage.

At the 41st session of the General Conference of UNESCO in Paris, Brnabić emphasized that four jewels of the Serbian medieval cultural heritage in Kosovo – Visoki Dečani, Peć Patriarchate, Gračanica and Bogorodica Ljeviška, have been preserved thanks to the fact that they are inscribed on the endangered world heritage list. Hundreds of other sites and monuments are endangered.

The Serbian heritage in Kosovo and Metohija is of immeasurable importance, not only for the national identity of Serbia, but also as a part of the esteemed European and world heritage, she underlined.

Source/Photo: www.srbija.gov.rs

"Your Excellences,

distinguished delegates,

dear Sarah,

At the very beginning, I feel obliged to thank Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Her Majesty’s Government for exceptional hospitality.

I feel privileged to represent the Republic of Serbia at this important place and at the highest-level world forum, in working on the most important topic of today – promoting climate awareness.

We all agree that we must make investment into climate and environment.

We all, likewise agree, that future generations must be educated in order not to repeat the mistakes we made, by hurting the only Planet that makes life possible.

I am very honoured that the Republic of Serbia is co-chairing this year’s Conference as a Non-EU representative of the Eastern Europe Group.

In concrete terms, we see the special contribution of our expert team in finalising negotiations on the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which refers to the establishment of the global market and non-market mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to remaining provisions referring to advanced transparency framework and common timeframes for Nationally Determined Contributions, which are the key provisions of the Agreement that have not yet been covered by the decision that is to be adopted by the Conference, i.e. all member states.

We, therefore, believe that this is an exceptional opportunity for Serbia to give its full contribution to the finalization of negotiations, which, we hope, will secure full implementation of the Paris Agreement.

As a result of strong economic development, modelled for Serbia by 2050, the impact of the implementation of climate measures to employment will be optimal, through new jobs creation and creation of new industries which have not existed so far.

One billion euros was raised at the first green bonds auction in Serbia, which clearly confirms the trust of international investors in our green agenda, but also to the economic and political stability of our country.

Incomes from green bonds issuance will be used for financing renewables, energy efficiency, sustainable water management, prevention of pollution and circular economy development and biodiversity preservation.

And as you can see, dear friends, my people made a terrific speech for me, but I am going to add a few more words and a few more questions for those that are coming from big powers and that haven’t answered yet several questions:

Number one is: how are we going to finance all these activities?

We’ve heard the story of trillions of dollars that are at our disposal. My question would be: what would be the interest rate, what would be the terms for taking these amounts of money, and actually how are we going to tackle that issue?

Number two: how are we going to treat the nuclear power plants? Are we going to shut them all or are we going to build them more?

Then, how are we going to build more renewables if we already started endorsing populist movements against wind parks, new hydropower plants, and are we going to put in jeopardy the level of our public debt to GDP ratio if we raise huge amounts of money?

How are we going to treat natural gas, and how are we going to secure decent prices of natural gas and electricity power as well?

And, I came here using an electric car from Edinburgh to Glasgow. But, how are we going to do mining and refining of lithium, nickel, cobalt and many other very important minerals?

In the end, we all know what is our final aim, what is our final target. But, it’s not a fairytale – we’ll have to work a lot, we’ll have to be 100 per cent dedicated, and we’ll have to be more honest with each other.

The health of people living in Serbia depends directly on the implementation of this Agenda, just like the health and life of each living being on Earth depends on arrangements that will be reached here and on national implementation of the respective arrangements.

Perhaps it is the right time to listen and hear the cry of Mother Earth because if we lose this race against time, our children will inherit an irreparably polluted Planet.

Thank you very much for listening to me."

Source: www.predsednik.rs

Photo: Dimitrije Goll