The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, paid an official visit to the Republic of Serbia yesterday. His visit once again confirmed the permanent friendship and ever-widening cooperation between Israel and Serbia. The visit, marked by talks on economic cooperation, innovation and shared values, reflected the deep ties between the two nations, which have been further strengthened in recent years.

President Herzog led a delegation that included representatives of leading Israeli organizations and institutions: the Directorate for Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, the Innovation Authority, the Export Institute and the Federation of Industrial Manufacturers. “The presence of the members of the delegation is a firm expression of Israel’s commitment to deepening our economic and trade relations. There are countless examples of Serbia’s economic development, such as the choice to host Expo 2027,” Herzog said.

The central event of the visit was a round table entitled “Synergy in Innovation and Trade: Talks between Serbia and Israel“, where the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and the President of Israel emphasized the importance of mutual economic and technological development. Addressing the audience, President Vučić expressed the expectation that Serbia and Israel will soon finalize the Free Trade Agreement, adding that this agreement would be crucial for deepening bilateral cooperation.

The President of Serbia began his address by quoting Shimon Peres: “Find a cause that is larger than yourself and then give your life to it, that’s what our friend Shimon Peres said. I think that there is nothing more important, nothing more significant than the development of a country.”

Speaking about the potential for further cooperation, Herzog praised the continuous economic growth of Serbia, assessing that it opens up “unlimited opportunities” for future joint projects, especially in the fields of innovation and technology. “Serbia is positioning itself as a key partner in the region,” Herzog said, adding that a significant number of Israeli companies are interested in investing in Serbia, especially in the renewable energy and technology sector.

“The proud and historic Jewish community in Serbia stands as a beacon of light, and together with friends and partners across Serbian society, we remember the dark days, and strengthen our resolve ad dedication when we say: Never again,” said Herzog.

During the visit, three Memorandums of Understanding were signed, which relate to technological innovation, trade and economic cooperation between the two countries (Memorandum on Cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia and the Israeli Institute for Export and International Cooperation, Memorandum on Cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia and the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce, Memorandum on Cooperation of the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia and the Association of Industrial Manufacturers of Israel). These agreements, as emphasized by President Vučić, represent an important step towards strengthening economic ties and creating common opportunities for progress. In addition, a Declaration on cooperation in the field of technological innovation was signed between the Office for IT and eGovernment of the Government of Serbia and the Innovation Authority of Israel.

A special theme was the EXPO 2027 exhibition, which will be hosted by the Republic of Serbia. Discussions about the participation of the State of Israel in EXPO 2027 began back in June, when representatives of the Institute for Politics and Economy of Southeast Europe (IPESE) visited the Peres Center for Innovation and Peace. On that occasion, Zoran Korać, Director of IPESE, said that the presence of Israel could be a great inspiration for young people in the Balkans, which is of great importance, “because education and economic development are the essence of peace and stability in the Western Balkans region”.

President Herzog pointed out that the organization of the EXPO 2027 exhibition is only one of the indicators of Serbia’s economic development. He added that the presence of numerous members of the Israeli delegation from the economic sector is a strong indicator of Israel’s commitment to deepening our economic and trade relations.

In addition to the economic dimension, the visit also had a special symbolic and cultural significance, reminding of the deep historical ties between Serbia and Israel. President Herzog, together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Marko Đurić, visited the Jewish Cemetery in Belgrade, where he laid a wreath in honor of the Jewish victims of fascism.

“The proud and historic Jewish community in Serbia stands as a beacon of light, and together with friends and partners across Serbian society, we remember the dark days, and strengthen our resolve ad dedication when we say: Never again,” said Herzog, referring to the shared history of suffering. and the courage of the people of Serbia and Israel.

In addition to the series of meetings, a press conference of the two presidents was held, during which the desire to continue cooperation and deepen friendship between the two nations was expressed. On this occasion, Isaac Herzog thanked the President for his sincere friendship and warm welcome, referring in particular to the fact that Serbia was one of the countries that condemned the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7, but at the same time the country that lent Israel a hand in these difficult times and opened its halls for Israeli athletes:

“This close state of relations between our peoples is not new, it follows a rich shared history between the Serbian and Jewish peoples. During the darkest time of our existence, the Holocaust, centuries of Jewish life in Europe were destroyed by the Nazis and their collaborators. Many in Serbia bravely resisted the Nazis, and some even risked their lives to save the Jews,” Herzog stressed.

The press conference was also attended by the mother of Alon Ohel, a young man of Serbian and Israeli origin, who disappeared after the Hamas attack on the Supernova festival almost a year ago. President Vučić emphasized the commitment of the Republic of Serbia to resolve this issue as soon as possible: “I spoke with several people, my friends from the Arab world, and asked them to talk to those who are holding him hostage and to ask. And that these people know that it is the request of the Republic of Serbia, the request of all of us, that Alon Ohel be released.”

This visit is not only a confirmation of strong diplomatic relations between Israel and Serbia, but also a foundation for more intense future cooperation in the fields of innovation and technology, following the common vision of progress, friendship and mutual respect that characterizes the relationship between these two countries.

Featured image: Tanjug/Vladimir Sporčić