San Marino–Serbia relations

Serbian-Sammarinese relations are foreign relations between Serbia and San Marino. Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of San Marino were established by the exchange of Notes on February 14, 2002 (ratified by Grand and General Council on July 30, 2002).

San Marino has an embassy in Belgrade while Serbia covers San Marino from an embassy in Rome. The Ambassador of San Marino to Serbia is Ubaldo Livolsi. The Ambassador of Serbia to Italy accredited on non-residential basis to San Marino is Sanda Rašković Ivić. The Ambassador of San Marino to Belgrade Ubaldo Livolsi presented his Letters of Credence on February 2, 2005.

Yugoslavia and the Republic of San Marino signed the Agreement on the establishment of consular relations by an exchange of Notes of September 25 and October 13, 1961, respectively. According to the Agreement, a senior diplomat in the Embassy of the SFRY in Rome was designated as Consul-General to the Republic of San Marino.

The Captains Regent paid a visit to Yugoslavia in 1984. San Marino's Foreign Minister Fabio Berardi visited Belgrade on July 15, 2005 where he met with Serbian President Boris Tadić, Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica and Foreign Minister Vuk Drašković. During the visit, Berardi promised that San Marino will support all Serbia's requests in the Council of Europe, during its chairmanship, regarding urge for the affirmation of dialogue and territorial sovereignty of Serbia. In 2008 after the "Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija" unilaterally declared independence as a "Republic of Kosovo", San Marino Foreign Ministry stated that San Marino recognises the right to self-determination but that it also believes that "the Helsinki Final Act plays an important part of the precious equilibrium". The statement pointed at the problem of the ethnic hatred in the area of former Yugoslavia that must not be forgotten and that although the proclamation of independence has been accompanied by the statement of respect for minorities by the new authorities, there is a remaining fear that without the protection of the international forces there could be a mass exodus of Serbs. San Marino does not wish to rekindle ethnic and religious conflicts by recognizing Kosovo as an independent state, although it believes that all the people of Kosovo need to be supported by international solidarity. San Marino supports the continued presence of OSCE on Kosovo and will wait with the decision on recognition until the status of Kosovo is resolved through dialogue of both sides under the supervision of United Nations, so that both sides can count on international impartiality of judgement.

Despite its previous statements, San Marino recognized the independence of the Republic of Kosovo on May 11, 2008. This move is expected to seriously severe relations between two countries.

ee also

*Foreign relations of Serbia
*Foreign relations of San Marino

References

* [http://www.mfa.gov.yu/Policy/Bilaterala/San_Marino/basic_e.html Bilateral Relations with San Marino] , Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
* [http://www.latribunasammarinese.net/edizioni/2005/07-luglio/18-07-2005rwyq.pdf Titano e Serbia-Montenegro sempre più vicine] La Tribuna Sammarinese
* [http://www.mfa.gov.yu/Bilteni/Engleski/b150705_e.html SAN MARINO WILL SUPPORT ALL SERBIA'S REQUESTS IN COE, SAYS BERARDI]
* [http://www.republicofsanmarino.net/pan360_notizia_news.htm?id=11744 Delegazione all'Assemblea Parlamentare dell’OSCE: "la Repubblica di San Marino ritiene quanto mai opportuna la presenza della missione OSCE in Kosovo auspicandone un suo potenziamento, e propone l’avvio immediato di un tavolo di discussione politica"] , San Marino Web