Foreign relations of Serbia are accomplished by efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Serbia has inherited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with all of its holdings, after the dissolution of the previous state union with Montenegro. Serbian foreign ministries continue to serve citizens of Montenegro in countries that do not have Montenegrin diplomatic presence. The governments of Serbia and Montenegro expressed an interest in pursuing a common foreign policy. Former President of Serbia Boris Tadić referred to relations with the European Union (EU), Russia, United States and China as the four pillars of foreign policy.[1] Serbia joined the United Nations on 1 November 2000.
History
Medieval Serbia
In the centuries prior to Ottoman rule in the country, medieval Serbian states established diplomatic relations with a number of states in Europe and the Mediterranean, particularly under the Nemanjić dynasty, during which time the Serbian Empire reached its greatest extent. Serbian envoys regularly embarked on missions to states near and far, typically in large entourages bearing gifts for the foreign courts. One such embassy to the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt arrived in Cairo bearing gifts including five hawks, five falcons, four silver cups, and an extravagantly ornamental sword. Serbian diplomats of the time were mostly drawn from two groups; those sent to the Catholic West primarily hailed from noble families from the coastal cities of the Adriatic Sea, such as Kotor, Dubrovnik, and Bar, and those sent to the Orthodox East were frequently members of the clergy, like Saint Sava. Typically the rulers of these states would provide dwellings for the envoys and their entourages, as well as transportation.[2]
Serbian Revolution and Autonomous Principality (1804–1878)
Serbia gained its partial independence from the Ottoman Empire in two uprisings in 1804 (led by Đorđe Petrović – Karađorđe) and 1815 (led by Miloš Obrenović), although Turkish troops continued to garrison the capital, Belgrade, until 1867. In 1817 the Principality of Serbia was granted de facto independence from the Ottoman Empire.[3] High officials in the Austro-Hungarian Empire lobbied for Ottoman approval of the liberal 1869 constitution for Serbia, which depended on the Porte for final approval. Vienna's strategy was that a liberal political system in Serbia would divert its impulse to foment nationalist unrest within its neighbors, and also delay its efforts to gain territory at the expense of the Ottoman Empire.[4]
The Autonomous Principality became an internationally recognized independent country following the Russo-Turkish War in 1878. Serbia remained a principality or kneževina (knjaževina), until 1882 when it became a Kingdom, during which the internal politics revolved largely around dynastic rivalry between the Obrenović and Karađorđević families.
In 1885, Serbia protested against the unification of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia. The Serbian king, Milan Obrenovic´ (1854–1901), who needed to divert attention away from his domestic problems, demanded that Bulgaria cede some of its territory to Serbia. The Great Powers discouraged him, but he declared war on Bulgaria on November 13, 1885. The Serbo-Bulgarian War ended on March 3, 1886. The Serbian army crossed the lightly defended northwest border of Bulgaria aiming to seize Sofia, the Bulgarian capital. The Bulgarian defenders defeated the invaders and then invaded Serbia. Vienna brokered a peace that restored the old status quo. Serbian casualties totaled 6,800, about triple the 2,300 Bulgarian total. The defeat forced Obrenovic to abdicate in March 1889, and the Serbian crown passed to a regency in the name of his son Alexander (1876–1903).[5]
Serbian strategic goals
Serbia had multiple national goals.[6][7][8] Serbian intellectuals dreamed of a South Slavic state—which in the 1920s became Yugoslavia. The large number of Serbs living in Bosnia looked to Serbia as the focus of their nationalism, but they were ruled by the Germans of the Austrian Empire. Austria's annexation of Bosnia in 1908 deeply alienated the Serbian peoples. Plotters swore revenge, which they achieved in 1914 by assassination of the Austrian heir.[9] Serbia was landlocked, and strongly felt the need for access to the Mediterranean, preferably through the Adriatic Sea. Austria worked hard to block Serbian access to the sea, for example by helping with the creation of Albania in 1912. Montenegro, Serbia's main ally, did have a small port, but Austrian territory intervened, blocking access until Serbia acquired Novi Pazar and part of Macedonia from the Ottoman Empire in 1913. To the south, Bulgaria blocked Serbian access to the Aegean Sea.[10] Serbia, Greece, Montenegro and Bulgaria formed the Balkan League and went to war with the Ottomans in 1912–1913. They won decisively and expelled that Empire from almost all of the Balkans.[11] The main remaining foe was Austria, which strongly rejected Pan-Slavism and Serbian nationalism and was ready to make war to end those threats.[12] Ethnic nationalism would doom the multicultural Austro-Hungarian Empire. Expansion of Serbia would block Austrian and German aspirations for direct rail connections to Constantinople and the Middle East. Serbia relied primarily on Russia for Great Power support but Russia was very hesitant at first to support Pan-Slavism, and counselled caution. However, in 1914 it reversed positions and promised military support to Serbia.[13]
The 28 June 1914 assassination of Austrian Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, by Gavrilo Princip, a pro-Serbian member of Young Bosnia served as the basis for the Austrian declaration of war on Serbia on 28 July 1914. Vienna acted despite Serbia's acceptance three days earlier of nearly all of Vienna's demands. Vienna was convinced that Serbia was behind the plot in an effort to destabilize the multi-nation empire.[14] The Austro-Hungarian army invaded Serbia capturing Belgrade on 2 December 1914, however the Serbian Army successfully defended the country, won several victories, and on 15 December 1914 recaptured Belgrade.[15]
On 28 July 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Within days, long-standing mobilization plans went into effect to initiate invasions or guard against them and Russia, France and Britain stood arrayed against Austria and Germany in what at the time was called the "Great War", and was later named "World War I" or "First World War." Austria thought in terms of one small limited war involving just the two countries. It did not plan a wider war such as exploded in a matter of days.
British historian John Zametica argued that Austria-Hungary was primarily responsible for starting the war, as its leaders believed that a successful war against Serbia was the only way it could remain a Great Power, solve deep internal disputes caused by Hungarian demands, and regain influence in the Balkan states.[16] Others, most notably Prof. Christopher Clark, have argued that Austria-Hungary, confronted with a Serbia that seemed determined to incite continual unrest and ultimately acquire all of the "Serb" inhabited lands of the Monarchy (which, according to the Pan-Serb point of view included all of Croatia, Dalmatia, Bosnia, Hercegovina and some of the southern counties of the Hungary(roughly corresponding to today's Vojvodina), and whose military and government was intertwined with the irredentist terrorist group known as "The Black Hand," saw no practical alternative to the use of force in ending what amounted to subversion from Serbia directed at a large chunk of its territories. In this perspective, Austria had little choice but to credibly threaten war and force Serbian submission if it wished to remain a Great Power.[17]
Diplomatic relations
List of countries which Serbia maintains diplomatic relations with:
Ever since the times of Josip Broz Tito and the Non-Aligned Movement, Serbia has enjoyed excellent relations with African nations. Angola, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and South Africa are Serbia's closest allies in Sub-Saharan Africa. South Africa and Serbia have had excellent relations since the signing of diplomatic relations in 1992 following the end of the Apartheid system. Many ANC and Umkhonto we Sizwe resistance fighters received training in Serbia during Apartheid. South Africa is also home to around 20,000 Serbs, mainly living in the Johannesburg area.[99] South Africa is also voicing support for Serbia over the Kosovo issue.[100]Nelson Mandela was also made an honorary citizen of Belgrade.[101] Serbia is also actively involved in many investments in Angola with whom it has excellent political and economic relations.
Diplomatic relations between Republic of the Congo and Serbia were established in 1964.
Diplomatic relations between Côte d'Ivoire and Serbia were established in 1968.
Diplomatic relations between Guinea-Bissau and Serbia were established in 1975. Guinea-Bissau supports Serbia's position regarding Kosovo, and prime minister Umaro Sissoco Embaló visited Belgrade in November 2017 to expand trade relations.[114]
Yugoslavia recognized the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic on 28 November 1984.[132] Yugoslavia was the first country in Europe which formally recognized the independence of Sahrawi Republic after some of its allies from the Non-Aligned Movement pressured Belgrade to follow on its earlier policy when Yugoslavia was the first European country to recognize neighboring Algeria as well.[133] While formal relations were limited Yugoslavia extended certain development aid by providing education both for civilians and Polisario members.[134] Recognition was withdrawn on 26 October 2004.
Americas
Serbia has strong but strained relations with the United States and a bit more relaxed relations with Canada, because of their hostile recognition of Kosovo's independence and NATO bombing from 1999, which aimed to help this secession. On 25 February 2008, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica demanded that the United States rescind its recognition of Kosovo, warning that "there will be no stability until the fake state" is annulled.[135]
Serbia has very good relations with Latin America, except Colombia and Panama[citation needed], which recognized Kosovo's independence.
Both countries have established diplomatic relations 1935. They were renewed in 1946. Diplomatic relations were broken off on two occasions, in 1947 and 1973, and the last renewal was in March 1990.
A number of bilateral agreements in various fields have been concluded and are in force between both countries.[146]
Prior to World War I and creation of Yugoslavia, Serbia and the US enjoyed excellent relations.
Bilateral relations between Serbia and the United States were established in 1881. At the outset of hostilities between NATO and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the spring of 1999, the United States and Yugoslavia severed diplomatic relations. After the overthrow of the Milosevic government in October 2000, the following month the United States reestablished a diplomatic presence. The U.S. Embassy formally reopened in May 2001. The Serbian Embassy in Washington and the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade have reestablished bilateral relations and provide a full range of consular services. In February 2008 Serbia recalled its ambassador from the United States, following the U.S. recognition of the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo.[162]
Serbia is represented in Venezuela through its embassy in Brasília (Brazil).
Venezuela is represented in Serbia through its embassy in Belgrade.
In 2007, Serbia exported goods worth €33,000 to Venezuela, while Venezuelan exports totaled €158,000.
After the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez announced that Venezuela does not recognise Kosovo's independence on the grounds that it has been achieved through U.S. pressure and criticised a recent political movement calling out for a more autonomous Zulia state. He said "This cannot be accepted. It's a very dangerous precedent for the entire world.".[166]
Serbia has excellent relations with countries such as China, Indonesia, India, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, South Korea, Vietnam, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries are important economic partners for Serbia in Asia.
Indonesia has very close relations with Serbia, especially within the fields of trade, culture and tourism. Indonesia has also voiced support for Serbia's territorial integrity over the Kosovo issue.[184]
Serbia has an embassy in Tehran and Iran has an embassy in Belgrade.
Serbia has strong relations with Iran.
Serbia and Iran maintained a visa free regime from 2 September 2017 until 17 October 2018. This led to an increase in travel of Iranians to Serbia. The visa regime was reinstated by Serbia following complaints from European Union after a large number of Iranian visitors used visa free regime to come to Serbia and cross over to European Union countries illegally. Serbian citizens can still enter Iran obtaining a visa on arrival.
Serbia maintains friendly relations with North Korea. Relations between the two countries started in 1948 under the Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito. Relations between the two countries are still strong in both political and military terms. The North Korean embassy to Serbia is accredited to Sofia, Bulgaria.
Serbia has signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union on 29 April 2008 and is in the process of the Republic of being admitted into the framework of the European Union as a full-fledged member state.
Serbia officially applied for European Union membership on 22 December 2009,[238] and the European Commission recommended making it an official candidate on 12 October 2011. After the vote of the 27 EU foreign ministers on 28 February 2012, where with 26 votes for and 1 vote against, a candidate status recommendation was issued, and Serbia received full candidate status on 1 March. On 28 June 2013 the European Council endorsed the Council of Ministers conclusions and recommendations to open accession negotiations with Serbia.[239][240] In December 2013 the Council of the European Union approved opening negotiations on Serbia's accession in January 2014,[241] and the first Intergovernmental Conference was held on 21 January at the European Council in Brussels.[242]
The two countries established diplomatic relations on 9 September 1996. Croatia has an embassy in Belgrade and a general consulate in Subotica. Serbia has an embassy in Zagreb and two general consulates (in Rijeka and Vukovar). There are around 200,000 people of Serbian descent living in Croatia and around 70,000 people of Croatian descent living in Serbia.
On 17 February 2008, representatives of the Assembly of Kosovo unilaterally declared Kosovo independence. Serbia, Russia, China, India, Greece, Mexico, Romania, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, and many others do not recognize Kosovo as an independent state. Serbia considers the declaration of Kosovo's independence illegal and has vowed to fight Kosovo's admission to international organizations. The Republic of Kosovo does not have membership status in the United Nations. As of 4 September 2020, 114 United Nations member states and some non UN members like the Republic of China, Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Niue and the Cook Islands recognize Kosovo as an independent state, while the rest do not.
Serbia, in response to nations which have recognized Kosovo as an independent nation, has consistently recalled its ambassadors to these nations.[245]
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that was formed in 1992 by the remaining Yugoslav republics Montenegro and Serbia established diplomatic relations with the Republic of North Macedonia on 8 April 1996.[247] The establishment of bilateral relations has been done under North Macedonia's former constitutional name – Republic of Macedonia.[248] Serbia therefore was one of 125 countries in the world recognizing Macedonia under the former constitutional name.[249] North Macedonia has an embassy in Belgrade, while Serbia's embassy is located in Skopje.
Serbia recognised Belarus in December 1991 and both countries established diplomatic relations in November 1994 and at the ambassadorial level in 1996.
Czech relations with Serbia were usually positive, just like relations between Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia (prewar). However, Czech government under administration of Mirek Topolánek decided to recognize Kosovo.
Friendly relations have played an important role in bilateral relations between the two nations, especially during the wars of the 1990s and the Balkans Campaign[282] in World War I.
Due to the strong historical friendship and the deep cultural and religious ties between the two nations, Greece and Serbia enjoy historically, religiously and culturally close ties which are confirmed by a regular political dialogue.
Greece is the top investor in Serbian economy[283] and during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, Greece openly expressed its disapproval and polls revealed that 94% of the Greek population were completely opposed to the bombing.[284] The more dramatic event was a People's Tribunal of over a 10.000 people in Athens, Greece, where the Greek Supreme Court declared president Clinton and NATO leaders guilty of war crimes.[285]
Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1917.
Both countries have agreements on International Transport by Road and on Avoidance of Double Taxation with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital.[297]
Diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union were established on 24 June 1940, and Serbia and the Russian Federation recognize the continuity of all inter-State documents signed between the two countries. There are about 70 bilateral treaties, agreements and protocols signed in the past. Serbia and the Russian Federation have signed and ratified 43 bilateral agreements and treaties in diverse areas of mutual cooperation so far.[314]
New Zealand is represented in Serbia through its embassy in The Hague (Netherlands).
Serbia is represented in New Zealand through its embassy in Canberra (Australia).
New Zealand and Serbia have four bilateral treaties in force including the most favoured nation treaty from 1960. Trade between the two countries was based on a very modest exchange totaling US$2.3 million in 2006 but it rose significantly in 2007 to EUR 805 million.[336]
In the 2006 census, over 1,000 New Zealand residents claimed to be of Serbian ethnicity.[337]
^Porcic, Nebojsa. (2016). Information on travel of Nemanjic embassies: Content and context. Balcanica. 97-118. 10.2298/BALC1647097P.
^Lawrence P. Meriage, "The First Serbian Uprising (1804-13) and the Nineteenth-Century Origins of the Eastern Question." Slavic Review (1978) 37#3 pp 421-439.
^Ian D. Armour, "Killing Nationalism with Liberalism? Austria–Hungary and the Serbian Constitution of 1869." Diplomacy & Statecraft 21.3 (2010): 343-367.
^Ferdinand Schevill, History of the Balkans (1922) pp. 411–413.
^Martin Gilbert, First World War Atlas (1970) p 8.
^Richard C. Hall, "Serbia," in Richard F. Hamilton, and Holger H. Herwig, eds. The Origins of World War I (Cambridge UP, 2003) pp 92–111.
^Christopher Clark, The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went to War in 1914 (2012) pp 3–64 online.
^Gunnar Hering, "Serbian-Bulgarian relations on the eve of and during the Balkan Wars." Balkan Studies (1962) 4#2 pp 297-326.
^Richard C. Hall, "Balkan Wars," History Today (2012) 62#11 pp 36-42,
^Béla K. Király, and Gunther Erich Rothenberg, War and Society in East Central Europe: Planning for war against Russia and Serbia: Austro-Hungarian and German military strategies, 1871–1914 (1993).
^Gale Stokes, "The Serbian Documents from 1914: A Preview" Journal of Modern History 48#3 (1976), pp. 69-84 online
^Richard C. Hall, "Serbia," in Richard F. Hamilton, and Holger H. Herwig, eds. The Origins of World War I (Cambridge UP, 2003) pp 92–111.
^James B. Lyon, Serbia and the Balkan Front, 1914: The Outbreak of the Great War (2015).
^Cahiers de l'Orient contemporain, Volumes 5-12. G. P. Maisonneuve., 1946. p. 227.
^Kardelj, Edvard (1949). Yugoslavia's Foreign Policy: Address Delivered During the Debate on the Budget in the Federal Assembly on December 29th, 1948. p. 35.
^Libro amarillo correspondiente al año ...: presentado al Congreso Nacional en sus sesiones ordinarias de ... por el titular despacho (in Spanish). Venezuela. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. 2003. pp. 528–529.
^Summary of the Yugoslav Press. Joint Translation Service. 1960. p. 45.
^Naše teme 5 (5-9) (in Croatian). Centar CK SKH za idejno-teorijski rad "Vladimir Bakarić.", Narodna omladina Hrvatske. Centralni komitet, Savez omladine Hrvatske. Centralni komitet, Socijalistički savez radnog naroda Hrvatske. Republička konferencija. 1961. p. 1110.
^Summary of the Yugoslav Press. Joint Translation Service. 1961. p. 19.
^Summary of the Yugoslav Press. Joint Translation Service. 1961. p. 14.
^Summary of World Broadcasts: Non-Arab Africa, Issues 2810-2888. British Broadcasting Corporation. Monitoring Service. 1968. p. 11.
^Pregled razvoja medjunarodno-pravnih odnosa jugoslovenskih zemalja od 1800 do danas (3). 1968. p. 699.
^Yugoslav Survey 14. Jugoslavija Publishing House. 1973. p. 137.
^Summary of the Yugoslav Press. The Service. 1963. p. 17.
^Yugoslav Survey 13. Jugoslavija Publishing House. 1972. p. 127.
^Summary of the Yugoslav Press. Joint Translation Service. 1964. p. 7.
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