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H.E. Mr. Naoto Kan, the Prime Minister of Japan and H.E. Mr. Boris Tadic, the President of the Republic of Serbia, held their official meeting on 8 March 2011, during the first official visit of President Tadic to Japan at the invitation of the Government of Japan.
The two leaders discussed the current situation and prospects of the bilateral relations and exchanged views on global issues, giving special emphasis on the importance of fundamental values such as democracy, freedom, rule of law and human rights.
They confirmed their commitments to advance bilateral ties in order to utilize to a full extent their potential and to enhance cooperation in jointly tackling the global challenges.
At the conclusion of the comprehensive friendly talks, the two leaders issued the following joint statement.
- Enhancement of bilateral ties and peace and stability of the Western Balkans
(1) The two leaders reaffirmed the important role of Serbia for peace and stability in the Western Balkans. They also underlined the importance of Japan's contribution to peace, stability and development in the Western Balkans.
(2) The two leaders shared the view that peaceful and stable Western Balkans meant increased business opportunities for Japanese businesses.
(3) President Tadic expressed his intention to continue the ongoing reforms towards Serbia's integration into Europe. Prime Minister Kan welcomed the President's intention and offered to continue supporting the efforts of Serbia.
(4) On behalf of the people of Serbia, President Tadic expressed his deep gratitude to the people of Japan for the provision of official development assistance (ODA), which had made a significant contribution to the welfare of the people of Serbia.
(5) Prime Minister Kan expressed to President Tadic the intention of the Government of Japan to extend a Japanese ODA loan for "The Flue Gas Desulphurization Construction Project for Thermal Power Plant Nikola Tesla" at the request made by the Government of Serbia. The Serbian side will take all necessary measures to receive a Japanese loan for this Project.
The two leaders emphasized that this Project would significantly contribute to prevent air pollution, while ensuring stable power supply in Serbia. They expect this Project would remove the pollutant come out of the plant at the higher level and realize energy efficiency as well. They also expect Japanese leading technologies and experiences, which are accumulated in the process of overcoming the environmental pollution, would be utilized efficiently and appropriately.
(6) President Tadic reiterated his support for UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and expressed his readiness to proceed with dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, in accordance with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/298.
(7) The two leaders shared the view that a deeper understanding between the three major ethnic groups and two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), as well as the country's territorial integrity, and sovereignty are indispensable elements in peace and stability in the Western Balkans. In this context, they expect that BiH political leaders take responsible actions in accordance with the relevant international agreements, including the Dayton Peace Accords. President Tadic expressed his determination to ensure that Serbia continue its constructive role for long-term stabilization of BiH.
(8) President Tadic reaffirmed his willingness to fulfill Serbia's commitment to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Prime Minister Kan praised the efforts of the President with respect to fundamental values such as rule of law.
(9) The two leaders welcomed the memorandum on police cooperation between the relevant authorities of both countries in December 2010 and reaffirmed importance of the cooperation in this field.
(10) The two leaders welcomed the visit of Japan Machinery Federation to Serbia in March 2011 and recognized the importance of raising awareness among the private sectors on investment opportunities in both countries. In this context, they welcomed organization of business forum in Tokyo and other business oriented events during President Tadic's visit to Japan.
(11) The two leaders took note of Serbia's increasing business opportunity, especially in light of its free trade agreements, and shared the view that further improvement of the investment environment in Serbia such as accelerating administrative procedures as well as increasing transparency and predictability would promote foreign investment.
(12) The two leaders expressed their willingness to make efforts to promote people-to-people exchange between both nationals by increasing the number of people traveling both ways.
In this regard, Prime Minister Kan referred the short-stay visa waiver for Japanese nationals taken by the Republic of Serbia as a positive input. Prime Minister Kan confirmed Japan's decision of exempting visa requirements for a short-stay in Japan for Serbian nationals holding valid biometric passports from 1 May 2011. President Tadic welcomed the decision and promised to take necessary measures to facilitate the visa-free arrangement by increasing the awareness of the fact the visa waiver only applies to holders of Serbian biometric passports.
President Tadic expressed readiness of the Serbian side to further promote Japan as a tourist destination.
(13) The two leaders shared the view on the importance of cultural exchanges and education on each other's language in deepening mutual understanding between the two peoples. In this regard, President Tadic pointed out the increase in the enthusiasm and interests in Serbia towards traditional and modern Japanese culture, and commended the activities by Japanese senior volunteers who had been dispatched by JICA to Serbia last year. Prime Minister Kan expressed his readiness to work together with the Serbian side to enhance cultural exchanges including Japanese language education.
(14) The two leaders welcomed the conclusion of the bilateral negotiation between Japan and Serbia on the accession of Serbia to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement and expressed their hope for an early conclusion of the rest of negotiations necessary for the accession. They reaffirmed their intention to strictly observe the WTO rules and commitments and to oppose protectionism. They shared the willingness to work together towards an early conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda, which should be ambitious and balanced in its content and would bolster multilateral trade system.
- Cooperation on global issues
(1) The two leaders exchanged views on issues of major concern to the international community, such as: climate change, nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, reduction of military expenditures in the world, need to develop a common understanding of Human Security, etc.
(2) The two leaders welcomed the Cancun Agreements adopted at the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 6th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol in Mexico. They concurred to continue their mutual cooperation toward objective of establishing comprehensive and legally binding framework to tackle climate change on global level in which all major economics participate, based on the Cancun Agreements. They reaffirmed their determination to constructively work together towards a successful outcome at the COP17 in South Africa.
(3) The two leaders stressed the need to cooperate in developing a common understanding of Human Security in the international community, to promote the concept of Human Security as an effective tool for addressing global challenges such as climate change, poverty and health issues and building a world where all individuals can live with dignity free from fear and want.
(4) The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of reducing nuclear risks and decided to enhance cooperation in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. They expressed their shared commitment to work together towards steadily implementing the Action Plan adopted at the 2010 NPT Review Conference last May, and the universalization of the IAEA-Additional Protocol.
(5) The two leaders shared their desire to achieve a meaningful result on Security Council reform so as to make the Security Council more representative, legitimate, effective, and responsive to the realities of the international community in the 21st century. They expressed their readiness to continue active engagement into the intergovernmental negotiation on the Security Council reform.
President Tadic expressed Serbia's support for the candidature of Japan to the UN Security Council (2016-2017) at the elections to be held during the 70th session of the General Assembly in New York. Prime Minister Kan expressed his appreciation for Serbia's support. President Tadic appreciated Japan's increasing role in the UN, particularly in the maintenance of the international peace and security.
(6) President Tadic commended "Kan Commitment", which was announced by Prime Minister Kan at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the 65th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in September 2010, which is to contribute 5 billion dollars in assistance in the field of health as well as 3.5 billion dollars in the field of education over 5 years from 2011 including contribution amounting to 800 million dollars to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in the coming years.
(7) The two leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purpose.
(8) The two leaders stressed the necessity of achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in accordance with the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. They reiterated the importance of the steady implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874 by all the UN member states. In that regard, they reaffirmed that human rights situation should be improved in accordance with the relevant resolutions adopted at the UN General Assembly in December 2010 and the UN Human Rights Council in March 2010.
- Conclusion
(1) The two leaders directed the corresponding officials to hold the next regular Japan-Serbia political consultation at Director-Generals' level, in order to review the developments on the above mentioned points and to expand bilateral cooperation.
(2) President Tadic invited Prime Minister Kan to pay an official visit to Serbia in the near future.
Tokyo, 8 March 2011
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Mr. Naoto Kan |
Mr. Boris Tadic |
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Prime Minister of Japan |
President of the Republic of Serbia |
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