Đurić: The partnership between Serbia and Ohio is a model partnership

Extending congratulations to his counterpart on assuming the post of Commander of the Ohio National Guard, the Serbian Foreign Minister noted that the partnership between the Republic of Serbia and the U.S. state of Ohio—which will mark two decades next year—represents a model partnership.

“We are proud of the fact that our excellent cooperation with Ohio, both in the military and civilian dimensions, has long gone beyond the framework of the State Partnership Program and has grown into a genuine friendship, standing out as a unique aspect of our overall relations with the United States of America,” Đurić emphasized.

With regard to Kosovo and Metohija, Minister Đurić underscored the importance of the KFOR mission as one of the key factors in maintaining peace and security, noting that Serbia values the contribution of U.S. armed forces in carrying out the Mission’s mandate—particularly in protecting the Serb population under extremely challenging and difficult circumstances caused by the repressive actions of the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Priština, as well as in preserving Serbian cultural and religious heritage in the Province.

Reflecting on past visits of senior Serbian and U.S. officials, he expressed Serbia’s wish to further intensify the dynamics of meetings and dialogue in the future, given that relations between Serbia and Ohio hold enormous potential—both qualitatively and quantitatively—for further development in the interest of both sides.

“In particular, I would highlight economic cooperation and cooperation in the field of education, which in recent years have also gained an institutional and legal framework through the signing of relevant agreements, as well as the increasing number of twinning and partnerships between our cities and cities in Ohio,” the Minister stated.

Speaking about the closeness of the two peoples, Minister Đurić also referred to the large Serbian community in Ohio, noting that its historic and cultural presence for decades has stood as a living testimony to the strength of ties not only between Serbia and Ohio, but also between Serbia and the United States as a whole.