Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah today agreed that their countries should both continue and improve their cooperation.

Nasser al-Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah and Mirko Cvetkovic

Following the meeting with Al-Sabah Cvetkovic told the press that the door to prospective Kuwaiti investors are open in Serbia, adding that economic cooperation between the two countries is the best way to overcome the global economic crisis.

He stressed that the Serbian government greatly appreciates Kuwait’s principled stance on Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity regarding the issue of Kosovo-Metohija.

The Serbian Prime Minister recalled that upholding international law is the basis of this stance, a view shared by the Kuwaiti government.

Cvetkovic noted that Serbia and Kuwait have had satisfactory relations for quite some time, voicing his belief that talks in Belgrade will additionally improve these relations and help to strengthen the political dialogue and cooperation in the economic, financial, investment and cultural sectors, military industry and other spheres.

He said that the overall trade between the two countries, although very intensive in the past, stood at less than $500,000 in the first half of 2009, adding his hopes that it will increase in the future.

Al-Sabah, who is heading the Kuwaiti delegation on its official visit to Serbia, voiced his gratitude for Serbia’s support during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait led by former Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein.

You stood by our side in the international arena during those events, you were devoted to international law and we are deeply grateful for that, the Kuwaiti Prime Minister said.

He said that Serbia and Kuwait have close political, economic and cultural ties.

After the meeting, Serbian Culture Minister Nebojsa Bradic and Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Salem al-Sabah signed a programme of cultural cooperation between Serbia and Kuwait.

An agreement on tourism cooperation was signed by Serbian Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic and Kuwait's Commerce and Industry Minister Ahmad al-Haroun. Another agreement on economic and technical cooperation was signed by Serbian Minister of Labour and Social Policy Rasim Ljajic and Kuwaiti Finance Minister Mustafa al-Shamali.

A protocol concerning civil aviation was signed by Director General of the Civil Aviation Directorate Nebojsa Starcevic and Head of Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Favaz Abdul Aziz al-Farah.

The signing of these agreements was attended also by Serbian Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac and Finance Minister Diana Dragutinovic, as well as members of the Kuwaiti delegation.