Iran, Serbia share common positions at international level: Parl. speaker

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf says Iran and Serbia share “coordinated positions” at the international level.

Qalibaf made the statement in a joint news conference with his visiting Serbian counterpart Vladimir Orlic in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Sunday.

“Relations between the two countries go back a long time and have been in place for over 80 years; and today, the second visit of the speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia to Tehran has been made at the invitation of Iran’s Parliament speaker,” Qalibaf said.

Placing a premium on parliamentary cooperation as “very effective” in enhancing relations in private and public sectors, Qalibaf said the two sides are set to develop cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and tourism during joint commissions set to be held in a few months.

“Iran and Serbia enjoy very good and coordinated positions at the international level,” said Iran's top legislator.

“In today's meeting, such coordination was emphasized despite potential pressure from certain countries,” the Iranian official said.

Qalibaf said “in the near future” he will visit Belgrade at the head of an economic-commercial delegation upon an invitation by his Serbian counterpart.

Orlic, for his part, praised the relations between the parliaments of Iran and Serbia as “warm” and said the friendship groups of the two countries are “very active,” and that the Islamic Republic’s friendship group in Belgrade has the largest number of representatives with 28 members.

The speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia also appreciated Iran’s respect for Serbia’s territorial integrity, saying the Islamic Republic’s non-recognition of Kosovo indicates that the country stands on the side of justice and international law.

Underlining that Serbia is trying to establish lasting peace and security in the region, Orlic said, “We also thank the Islamic Republic of Iran for its support to Serbia.”

The speaker also told reporters that he had briefed his Iranian counterpart on the difficult conditions the Serbian people are facing in some areas.

Serbia, as the most important political partner of Iran in the Western Balkans, is the only country in the region that has not followed the sanctions package of the European Union against the Islamic Republic.

The level of trade between the two countries will reach 62 million dollars in 2023, and as the officials of the two countries say efforts are being made to promote trade, especially between the private sectors.

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