 | |
 Palestine |  Serbia |
|---|---|
Palestine and Serbia maintain diplomatic relations established between thePalestine andSFR Yugoslavia in 1989. From 1989 to 2006, Palestine maintained relations with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) (laterSerbia and Montenegro), of which Serbia is consideredshared (SFRY) or sole (FRY) legalsuccessor.[1]
Yugoslavia underJosip Broz Tito had established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1948. After theSix-Day War in 1967, Yugoslavia had cut off all diplomatic relations with Israel and did not restore them until 1991. Tito had strongly supportedYasser Arafat and thePalestine Liberation Organization. Yasser Arafat was one of the dignitaries who had visited Belgrade after the death of Tito on 8 May 1980.[2] Yugoslavia hadrecognized the State of Palestine in 1988 and had established full diplomatic relations with it in 1989. During theYugoslav wars in the 1990s, Palestine had recognised theFederal Republic of Yugoslavia (thenSerbia andMontenegro) and all the other former Yugoslav republics.[citation needed]
In late 1999, during a time when Serbia was increasingly isolated internationally for its actions in theYugoslav Wars, the Palestinian Authority invited Serbian PresidentSlobodan Milošević to celebrate Orthodox Christmas in the city of Bethlehem in the West Bank. An Israeli spokesman said that Milošević would probably be detained if he entered most countries, including Israel, as he had been indicted by the International Criminal Court.[3] Milošević did not ultimately attend the ceremonies.
Tomislav Nikolić, President of Serbia, visited Palestine at the invitation of President Abu Mazen in 2013.[4]
President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas visited Serbia accompanied by Riyad al-Maliki in 2015 and opened the embassy of Palestine inBelgrade, in the presence of the President of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolić. On that occasion, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the ministries of foreign affairs and was agreed to hold consultations on an annual basis, as well as the development of economic relations and the opening of cooperation programs in various sectors.
Serbian Foreign MinisterIvica Dačić visited the city ofBethlehem and met withRiyad al-Maliki in 2017.[5]
A parliamentary Palestinian-Serbian Friendship Committee between theNational Assembly of Serbia and thePalestinian National Council was formed in 2020. The Friendship Committee was formed by members of the Serbian Parliament representing the ruling coalition parties: theSerbian Progressive Party, theSocialist Party and theSocial Democratic Party.
As part of the "World in Serbia" educational program, in the period 2009–2017 Serbia provided more than seventy scholarships for Palestine in various disciplines.
Serbiaabstained from supporting seven successive UN General Assembly resolutions related to the Palestinian cause passed on 4 November 2020 shortly after the conclusion of theKosovo–Serbia Economic Agreement in early September.[6][7]
Serbia has voted in favor of Palestine on several occasions, including theUN General Assembly vote rejecting theUnited States' decision to move its embassy in Israel toJerusalem.[8]
Palestine is strongly against the independence of Kosovo. In February 2008, two senior Palestinian officials representing the Mahmoud AbbasWest Bank-controlling government, who also are part of the team negotiating with Israel, disagreed on what the Kosovo events implied for Palestine.Yasser Abed Rabbo said, "If things are not going in the direction of continuous and serious negotiations, then we should take the step and announce our independence unilaterally. Kosovo is not better than us. We deserve independence even before Kosovo, and we ask for the backing of theUnited States and theEuropean Union for our independence".Saeb Erekat responded that thePalestine Liberation Organization had already declared independence in 1988. "Now we need real independence, not a declaration," said Erekat, "We need real independence by ending the occupation. We are not Kosovo. We are under Israeli occupation and for independence we need to acquire independence".[9]
After 2009 state visit to Serbia, President Mahmoud Abbas in a meeting with the Serbian PresidentBoris Tadić, when discussing both the situations in the Middle East and Kosovo said, "We are looking for a way to resolve these problems in a peaceful way, by upholding international law. We cannot impose solutions nor can we accept imposed solutions. That is why we must negotiate".[10][11] In September 2011, during the meeting of Foreign Ministers of theNon-Aligned Movement summit in Belgrade, the Palestinian Ambassador to the UNRiyad Mansour said that Palestine was a "typical foreign occupation which cannot be compared to the issue of Kosovo" as confirmed by international law and the UN.[12][13]
In 2014 Palestinian Ambassador to Serbia Muhammad Nabhan said that "Kosovo has always been part of Serbia", that thus unlike Israel in the Palestinian territories, that Serbia has "never occupied Kosovo," and that "Palestinians support Serbia and still do".[14]
During the 2008–2009Gaza War, Foreign MinisterVuk Jeremić said "We are joining the voice of the whole world, which condemns the violence in Gaza, and we call for the stopping of missile attacks on Israel and Israeli attacks against the Gaza strip".[15]Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia condemns attacks in the Gaza Strip, and calls for calming of military actions in which guiltless civilians are killed. The Republic of Serbia welcomes thedecision of the U.N. Security Council and joins in with the rest of the world in condemning the violence in the Middle East. Republic of Serbia is committed to a peaceful resolution of all conflicts, and calls on both sides to stop the attacks which cause a humanitarian catastrophe."[16] President of the National AssemblySlavica Đukić Dejanović accepted a proposal of the Greek Parliament President for a regional conference aimed at ending the escalating violence in the Middle East.[17] After the2010 Gaza flotilla raid, the SerbianMinistry of Foreign Affairs condemned the excessive use of force which caused the deaths of innocent civilians. It also endorsed the UN Security Council's call for an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident.[18]
At the 2010 summit of Balkan countries in Istanbul, Serbia was one of the countries that strongly condemned Israel's attack on the aid flotilla as well as the loss of life. In 2011, Serbia voted to recognizePalestine as UNESCO's 195th member, against Israel's wishes. Belgrade declared that it would not have opposed a resolution recognizing Palestinian sovereignty, had one come before the UN General Assembly.[19] In 2012 Serbia voted in favor ofUnited Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19, making Palestine a non-member UN observer state, like theVatican.[20]
During the2014 Gaza War, Serbian Prime MinisterAleksandar Vučić stated that Serbia respected the right of the state of Israel to existence and a peaceful life of its citizens, and expressed hope that the situation would be resolved peacefully and that everyday life would return to normal.[21]
During theGaza war, Serbian PresidentAleksandar Vučić condemned theOctober 7 attacks. He stated that Serbia is against the killing of civilians and medical personnel and that both sides are friends and that Serbia will keep friendship with both of them.[22]
Serbia sent humanitarian aid, including food, medicine equipment, water and tents. Serbian Minister of Internal and External TradeTomislav Momirović stated that Serbia stands in solidarity with innocent people who are victims of a tragic conflict.[23]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)| Africa |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Americas | ||
| Asia | ||
| Europe | ||
| Oceania | ||
| Former states | ||
| Disputes | ||
| Multilateral relations | ||
| Related topics | ||