Reform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Reform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

photo: mfa.rs

After becoming head of Serbia’s Foreign Office minister Dacic underlined that Serbian Diplomacy needs further reforms and strengthening of its Foreign Service. First of all it means full professionalization of the diplomatic service but also appointing of Serbia’s ambassadors in countries which are for too long time without heads of Serbia’s diplomatic missions. Especially in important countries such are USA, Germany and PR China. Last month Serbia appointed Mr. Bacevic as an ambassador in Beijing. Minister Dacic established team led by Mr. Veljko Odalovic, General Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The team’s main goal is to prepare the text of new Foreign affairs Law which will create conditions for full professionalization of the diplomatic service of Serbia. Also it should create preconditions for lower costs of the diplomatic service of Serbia. One of the initiatives propelled by minister Dacic is related to the return of more than 70 diplomatic passports irregularly held by former officials of Serbia. Minister announced few days ago that MFA decided to invalidate these passports.

Regarding the new organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs minister Dacic told that Canadian model can be very useful for Serbia having in mind that Canadian MFA has very active economic diplomacy department.

Great Powers and Global Challenges

One of the most important issues in implementation of Serbia’s foreign policy is Serbia’s balancing between great powers but also dealing with global threats and challenges. Serbia is faced with balancing between West and East but it is also pretty clear that Serbia is going towards European Union membership. It is obviously the main objective of Serbia’s foreign policy. On the other hand Serbia is strong in its standpoint that it is willing to keep good bilateral relations with Russian Federation, PR China and United States. Current crisis in Ukraine puts Serbia in a difficult position having in mind that EU expects more solidarity from Serbia regarding its policy towards Ukrainian crisis. It is more than obvious that Serbia’s stand towards Ukrainian crisis will depend on future denouement of Moscow – Washington debate on Ukraine’s future.

Current Government of Serbia’s officials are very active in their dialogue with the representatives of the global partners. Serbian Prime Minister Mr. Vucic and head of diplomacy Mr. Dacic visited Brussels, Moscow, Berlin, Washington DC, Abu Dhabi and Beijing for several times in the past six months. Serbia was a host to the numerous high ranking officials from Russia, EU, USA, China, Japan, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria etc. After 13 years Canadian minister of foreign affairs has visited Belgrade. Also Archbishop Mumberti, who is Vatican’s Secretary for relations with States visited Serbia. It was first high ranked Vatican’s official visit to Serbia after 11 years.

No doubt, the highest ranked guest of the current Government of Serbia was Russian president Vladimir Putin who visited Serbia on October 16^th. The main motive for Mr. Putin’s visit to Serbia was celebration of victory in the Second World War. Few days before Mr. Putin arrived in Belgrade minister Dacic visited Moscow to discuss economic and trade cooperation between two friendly states.

Mr. Dacic and his colleagues PM Mr. Vucic and President of Sebia Mr. Nikolic are very active in dialogue with Austria, a country which was Serbia’s enemy N^o1 in the WWI and now it is a main economic partner of Serbia having in mind that Austrian companies invested the largest share of FDI in Serbia. Therefore minister Dacic and his Austrian colleague had numerous meetings in a past few month s including several visits of Mr. Kurz to Serbia. 100 years after the WWI hostility these two countries are showing that the past needs to be behind the nations and that cooperation and dialogue are the best way of resolving of historic misunderstandings.

It is clear that Serbia holds very specific position within the international arena and that it is often in a position of balancing between global partners. In a 2015 there will be huge challenge in front of Serbia which will chair OSCE in the time of solving of Ukrainian crisis. Mr. Dacic needs to show great diplomatic skills in a dialogue between West and East currently conflicted in Ukraine. It will be a great test of maturity of Serbia’s foreign policy but also an opportunity for Serbia to show that it is active and useful member of international community. Actually it will be a great chance for Serbia to show that it is ready to become a full member state of the European Union in the near future.