Kiren Rijiju met Serbian Prime Minister Duro Macut and Foreign Minister Marko Duric in Belgrade to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between India and Serbia.
India and Serbia Discuss Stronger Bilateral Ties
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju held talks with Serbian Prime Minister Duro Macut and Foreign Minister Marko Duric in Belgrade on Monday, discussing ways to further strengthen the longstanding relationship between India and Serbia.
Rijiju met Prime Minister Macut at the Palace of Serbia, where the two sides exchanged views on strengthening bilateral ties based on mutual respect, friendship and shared interests.
Earlier, Rijiju held a meeting with Foreign Minister Marko Duric to review the longstanding friendship between the two countries and discuss opportunities for deeper cooperation across areas of mutual interest.
Rijiju Leads Indian Delegation at NAM Meeting
Rijiju is leading the Indian delegation at a High-Level Commemorative Meeting marking the 65th anniversary of the First Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
The meeting is being held in Belgrade from August 31 to September 1 under the theme, “The Legacy of Non-Alignment: Lessons for Today’s World.”
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the gathering commemorates the first NAM conference and provides participating countries an opportunity to reflect on the movement’s continued relevance.
India is a founding member of NAM, which currently brings together 121 developing countries. The country continues to remain committed to the principles and values associated with the movement.
Engagement with Indian Community in Serbia
As part of his visit, Rijiju also paid floral tributes at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Belgrade and interacted with members of the Indian community.
He appreciated the diaspora’s contribution towards strengthening people-to-people connections and India-Serbia relations.
During the interaction, Rijiju met members of the Indian community, including a person who recalled travelling to Serbia, then part of Yugoslavia, through an India-Yugoslavia exchange programme in 1966-67.
He also interacted with children from the Indian community and discussed their cultural activities and the popularity of Indian food in the region.
Rijiju described the interaction as an emotionally significant experience, highlighting the longstanding people-to-people links between India and Serbia.
Rijiju Visits Museum of Yugoslavia
The Union Minister also visited the Museum of Yugoslavia and the House of Flowers, the mausoleum of former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito.
The visits provided an opportunity to learn more about Yugoslavia’s political history, cultural heritage and Tito’s life and legacy.
The engagements formed part of Rijiju’s wider diplomatic programme in Belgrade alongside his participation in the NAM commemorative meeting.
Strengthening India’s Engagement with Serbia
The meetings with Serbia’s senior leadership underline India’s continued engagement with the country and its interest in expanding cooperation across areas of mutual importance.
The discussions also come as India participates in the commemorative NAM meeting, reinforcing its historical association with the movement and its continued engagement with fellow developing nations.
The combination of diplomatic discussions, community engagement and participation in the NAM gathering provides an opportunity to strengthen both government-to-government and people-to-people relations between India and Serbia.
Key Takeaways
- Kiren Rijiju met Serbian Prime Minister Duro Macut in Belgrade.
- He also held discussions with Foreign Minister Marko Duric.
- Talks focused on strengthening India-Serbia bilateral cooperation.
- Rijiju is leading India’s delegation at the 65th anniversary NAM meeting.
- India is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement.
- Rijiju interacted with the Indian diaspora and visited the Museum of Yugoslavia.
