Prime Minister Ana Brnabic talked today with Secretary of the Holy See for Relations with States Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher about bilateral relations, European integration of Serbia, and cooperation in the region.
Brnabic pointed out that Serbia is committed to improving relations with the Holy See, recalling that the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations was marked last year.
Serbia highly respects the interest and support of the Holy See in the region of the Western Balkans, she said and added that it is of key interest to achieve the most intensive cooperation in all areas.
Stating that the European perspective is important for the stability and prosperity of the region, Archbishop Gallagher stated that the Holy See strongly supports the reforms that Serbia is implementing in the process of European integration.
The Secretary of the Holy See pointed out that he is firmly committed to the preservation and protection of churches and monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija, which represent a strong historical and spiritual value for Serbia.
The Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the support for Serbia's European integration and the principled position of the Holy See on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija, based on respect for international law.
Expressing concern over the endangerment of Serbian monasteries in Kosovo and Metohija, Brnabic stated that the monastery of Visoki Decani, which is also a monument of great historical importance not only for Serbia but also for European cultural heritage, is included in the list of one of the most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe in 2021
The Prime Minister underlined that Serbia and the Holy See have the same attitudes towards universal issues of peace and security, human rights and environmental protection, and that these are important bases for further improvement of cooperation.