Narodna Skupstina Republike Srbije

02/08/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/09/2023 04:08

Members of PFG with Algeria Speak with Algerian Ambassador to Serbia

The members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Algeria, headed by the Prof. Dr Jahja Fehratovic, met today at the National Assembly House with Algerian Ambassador to Serbia Fatah Mahraz at talked about a number of topics of mutual interest, including further steps in the development of parliamentary relations.

At the beginning of the meeting, PFG Head Fehratovic pointed out that the interparliamentary cooperation is well-developed, dynamic and continuous and corresponds to the traditionally friendly relations between the countries, dating back to the period of Algeria's gaining independence.

He stressed that the exchange of visits by the president speakers and the Framework Protocol on cooperation between the National People's Assembly of the Republic of Algeria and the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia had greatly contributed to the development of interparliamentary cooperation.

He added that there is room to improve cooperation in the fields of economy, science, education and tourism, opining that an exchange of visits by the members of the parliamentary friendship groups could lend additional impulse to the relations between the two parliaments. Fehratovic emphasised the importance of marking the 60th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade, held in 2021, for Serbian-Algerian relations.

Jahja Fehratovic especially thanked Algeria for its principled position in terms of observing international law and respecting Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty as regards the non-recognition of the self-proclaimed independence of so-called Kosovo.

Algerian Ambassador Fatah Mahraz agreed with the MPs that there is potential for improving the cooperation between the two parliaments. He informed the PFG members that the Algerian Parliament is currently in the process of forming a friendship group with Serbia.

The Ambassador agreed with the hosts that there is room to improve cooperation in the fields of tourism, economy, agriculture, culture, education and economy. He expressed hope that a direct flight between would soon be established Serbia and Algeria, as it would contribute to the development of tourism and the economy. He stressed that he supported cooperation in the field of education, through student exchange and scholarships, adding that a large number of students from Algeria are studying at the Belgrade Faculties of Medicine and Agriculture.

Ambassador Mahraz underlined that Algeria would continue to support Serbia in the fight for territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The meeting was attended by PFG members MA Jadranka Jovanovic, Draginja Vlku, Usame Zukorlic, Nemanja Joksimovic, MSci.Med. Tatjana Jovanovic, Prof. Dr Mirka Lukic-Sarkanovic and Dragan Milinkovic.

They agreed that the relations between Serbia and Algeria are traditionally good and friendly and that there is potential for improving cooperation across the board, especially in the fields of culture, tourism, science and education. They expressed hope that the Algerian parliament would soon set up its own friendship group with Serbia after which the parliamentarians could exchange visits with the aim of exchanging experiences and establishing even better parliamentary cooperation. They thanked the leadership of Algeria for their principled stance on Serbia's territorial integrity.