16.08.2016.

Visit of US Vice President Joseph Biden to Serbia

The United States Vice President Joseph Biden has stayed today in Belgrade as part of his official visit to our country, during which he met with Serbian top officials. Vice President Biden was welcomed by Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, along with playing the national anthem and honorary battalion of the Serbian Army Guard.

The Serbian delegation also included Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic, Deputy Prime Ministers Ivica Dacic, Nebojsa Stefanovic and Zorana Mihajlovic, and the head of the government Office for Kosovo-Metohija, Marko Djuric, who gave him a ceremonial welcome outside the Palace of Serbia.

Speaking to the assembled reporters after the talks with the US Vice President, Prime Minister Vucic pointed out that on that occasion they discussed the three significant topics – bilateral relations between the two countries, the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and possible future progress, as well as regional relations and Serbia's European path.

Prime Minister Vucic stressed that he and the Vice President discussed mostly the regional stability, expressing his belief that the US wanted a peaceful and stable Western Balkans adding that Serbia would do all it could to contribute to that. He also thanked the United States for its support for Serbia’s European path noting that Serbia would strive to meet all its obligations. The Serbian Prime Minister assessed that the US-Serbia bilateral relations are on an upward trajectory.

Biden agreed with the assessment of Prime Minister Vucic on relations between the two countries, noting that during his visit he would like to extend his condolences to all the families who lost their loved ones in the NATO campaign in 1999. He pointed out that some moments in our common history were extremely painful, but that he was pleased that the new chapter had been opened in Serbia-United States relations.

According to him, Serbia is a key political and econ

omic cornerstone for the entire region, and speaking about the security cooperation, Vice President Biden pointed out that Serbia and the US have good cooperation in the field of training, the fight against terrorism, participation in multinational operations, as well as through programs aimed at NATO partner countries that contribute to better equipping of the Serbian Armed Forces.

After the talks between the two delegations, the US Vice President met with the President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic.