Today the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luca Beccari, accompanied by a Diplomatic Delegation led by the Ambassador of San Marino to the Republic of Serbia, Lino Zonzini, is paying an official visit to Belgrade, upon invitation of the Serbian Institutional Authorities.  

In the morning, at the Government Building, Minister Beccari was greeted by the Prime Minister, H.E. Ana Brnabić, with whom he engaged in a wide-ranging and articulate discussion, and was then received by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, H.E. Ivica Dačić, with whom all relevant bilateral and multilateral aspects were discussed.

The discussion during the meetings at the highest level started with the topic of cooperation in the framework of the Specialised Expo 2027 in Belgrade, which is an important event for Serbia at a multilateral level, and which was also organised thanks to San Marino's support. This discussion marked the beginning of a cooperation plan also to organise San Marino's participation.

In this context, the dual purpose of the specialised Expo 2027 was agreed. It is not only a platform for cooperation for the intrinsic objectives of the event, but also a hub for a series of further bilateral initiatives to strengthen relations in the economic, diplomatic, cultural and educational fields.

Particular attention was paid to the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative and the EUSAIR programme of which both countries are members, as well as the assessment of potential cooperation on joint projects also in association with other States in the macro Region.

The meetings were also an opportunity to examine the respective processes of greater integration of San Marino and Serbia with the European Union; although they have different objectives, they are both in search of a better position in the relations with the EU. It was also a fruitful occasion to discuss in a broader sense the current challenges facing the international community in these times of particular geopolitical instability.

On this occasion, the Serbian Authorities presented a new philatelic issue specially created to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Today's visit by Minister Luca Beccari will be followed by an official visit to San Marino by the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Ivica Dačić, accompanied by a larger technical delegation which will be an occasion to further discuss the initiatives under consideration.

San Marino 18 July 2023.