Marko Duric, 42, has been Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs for just over a year. Previously, he was the head of the Kosovo Office of the Serbian Government (a former province that unilaterally declared independence in 2008) and ambassador to the US. In his first visit to Spain, he discusses the profound changes that the international scene has experienced in recent months, his country's relationship with Russia and Ukraine, its aspiration to join the EU, and, of course, the significant student protests against President Aleksandar Vucic's government, which have been ongoing for 10 months.
He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia just over a year ago. What changes has the international landscape experienced during this time?
We are experiencing a period of great turmoil and crisis on a global level regarding security and international relations, which has only worsened. This means that Foreign Ministers worldwide have the task and duty to work responsibly to promote their own countries' interests, not at the expense of others, but in cooperation with them. My main goal during this period has been to contribute to my country's stability by trying to create a good neighborly environment with our closest neighbors. We have eight neighbors while maintaining a balance between our alliances and traditional friendships with some of the world's largest countries. In this context, we must maintain excellent relations with the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and keep Serbia on the map as a country that has more than doubled its GDP in less than a decade and is hosting Expo 2027 in Belgrade, which is expected to truly change our country's image.
What do you see as the main challenges?
Many challenges consist of maintaining a favorable, secure, and suitable environment for the economy to thrive. We strive to maintain stability both nationally and regionally, preserve our independence and neutrality in domestic and foreign policy, and place the economy at the center of our policies. We have had significant success in addressing the demographic challenges in our region because, like in other parts of Europe, we have an aging population with an average age of 44. Additionally, we have established a specialized government agency to bring back all those talented Serbs scattered around the world. And, of course, a significant challenge for all countries, but especially for those in our region, is ensuring energy security and meeting our needs.
You were an ambassador to the US, and the Trump family has always had good relations with your country and even has a significant hotel project in Belgrade. Were you surprised when the US President imposed a 35% tariff?
We are actively working with the US Administration to resolve the tariff issue, but this is far from being the central point of our relationship with the US. Two weeks ago, I was in Washington and had an excellent meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. We have agreed on a long-term strategic dialogue later this year between Serbia and the United States, in addition to signing a strategic partnership agreement in the energy sector last year. And we are working on regional stability issues. I would say our relationship is progressing, and we hope the tariff issue will be resolved with the same spirit. Serbia exports services worth billions to the US, which will not be affected by the current tariffs, but it is also important to resolve the percentage issue.
Serbia has been a candidate for the European Union since 2012, and although it was one of the favorites until recently, it seems that Albania and Montenegro have surpassed you. What do you think has happened?
Serbia is diligently working to implement all necessary reforms, aiming to complete all legislative changes by the end of 2026. Serbia has attracted 65% of all investments in Southeast Europe and has stabilized its macroeconomic situation to the extent that we have reduced our public debt-to-GDP ratio from 79% to 45% currently. Therefore, I believe that Serbia can truly contribute to European economic growth, as our annual growth rate is well above the European average, and we are not striving for accession to receive more money from Brussels. Furthermore, I think that sometimes there are political or ideological views in some EU member states that affect the pace of the accession process. I believe that if Europe does not complete the enlargement process on its own continent, it risks losing its relevance and, frankly, also risks becoming a kind of theme park where tourism can be enjoyed. For our continent to regain its rightful place on the world stage, Europeans must embrace the vision of a united Europe, and true unity without the Balkans is not possible.
Do you think your country is disadvantaged by being perceived as a block along with the rest of the Western Balkans?
Well, we are not selfish in our ambition, and we are not against the countries in our region joining the EU. But I must also say that it is not good for our reputation when we hear that some of the other countries are more advanced, for example, in combating corruption or in the economy. Our standard of living is already higher than that of the poorest EU countries, and the functioning of our institutions, although requiring much more effort, is not worse than some of them. So, it must be a geopolitical decision. We are very grateful to the Spanish Government and the Spanish people for supporting a vision of a united Europe that includes the Balkans region because that will make Europe a safer place.
A few days ago, President Vucic agreed with Lavrov to strengthen Serbia's relations with Russia. Last Tuesday, he met with Putin in Beijing. What is your country's current position regarding the war in Ukraine?
Serbia maintains a balanced foreign policy and engages in dialogue and discussions with all interested parties. Both Russia and Ukraine support Serbia's position on territorial integrity and sovereignty, especially regarding the issue of the southern province of Kosovo. President Vucic has met with President Zelensky nine times in the last 12 months. We also maintain dialogue with the Russian side, with whom we also have historical relationships that we must not break. We uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter on territorial integrity and sovereignty of all dependent states, including Ukraine. However, we also conduct our foreign policy in line with our national interests. Serbia has sent a lot of humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine and has welcomed thousands of Ukrainians in Serbia. We take a principled stance in this conflict. Therefore, in international organizations, we want the situation to be resolved as soon as possible. President Vucic has offered that Serbia is open to any formal or informal debate on how to resolve the tension. We are not afraid of the word peace.
A new academic year is about to begin, and student protests have already lasted for 10 months. Is your Government genuinely open to dialogue?
The protests are not exclusively by students, nor are the students united on this issue, as there are also pro-government students in front of the National Assembly in Belgrade. The Government has repeatedly shown its willingness to listen to some of the initial demands made by the protesters. Additionally, the Government resigned in April. We have a new one precisely because we wanted to address the protesters' demands. President Vucic has repeatedly called for dialogue with various opposition groups. The last time was a week ago. Unfortunately, these requests were rejected. On the other hand, we have seen scenes of violence or attacks against police at the Serbian Progressive Party's facilities and gatherings that violate the law, which is a paradox because they demand a stronger rule of law but are not prepared to comply with its basic elements. The Government has shown restraint, and the use of the police was limited to cases where the protesters were blocking. And the people of Serbia do not like blockades. Surveys show that support for the president is increasing. It is slightly below 50%.
President Vucic wrote to 'Financial Times' and 'The Guardian' newspapers to share his perspective on the protests. What was the reason for these letters?
Serbia is working very hard to improve its image. Many people in the political class worldwide have heard about Serbia during the 1990s, and not in very favorable terms. That is why President Vucic strives to prevent Serbia from being defamed or unfairly portrayed for political reasons, as some opposition groups have done. I believe it is another testament to our dialogue position. Even with those individuals or editors who are sometimes not objective or do not lean favorably towards our country but simply offer an alternative viewpoint not based on facts. I think it is crucial to adhere to the ancient Latin proverb: 'Present the facts and consider them in your reasoning and when deciding what the arguments are'.
Last Monday, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovi said, "Serbia is on the brink of civil war" due to the protests. What do you think of these words?
Well, we have a lot of respect for all our neighbors. And we strive to create a much better environment because Serbia has eight neighbors, making us, after Germany, the country with the most neighbors in Europe. That said, I do not believe it is appropriate to comment on your neighbors' internal situation in that way. And everyone should, in a way, clean up their own backyard. First and foremost, with all due respect, and of course, Serbia is not the only country having a lively political debate and protests, which is a sign that our nation is open to diverse political opinions. And I think we should handle each other's political systems very carefully, striving to open a new chapter in the relationship where we do not seek opportunities to undermine each other.