The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye is in Serbia at the country’s invitation. The visit is at a time when efforts are being made by both countries to strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation.
The Serbian Assembly Speaker, Maja Gojkovic, at a meeting with the Ghanaian Speaker, said the two countries share a long history of friendly relations, from the times of former Yugoslavia and the Non-Aligned Movement, adding that this historic friendship and support, oblige the two countries to keep advancing bilateral relations in all areas of common interest.
Speaker Gojkovic said that the Ghanaian Speaker’s visit shows that the two countries are ready to develop and enhance their bilateral relations in the future adding that the historic visit also opens a new chapter of inter Parliamentary cooperation. The establishment of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with Ghana is a first step in this direction.
Speaker Gojkovic confirmed the Serbian Assembly’s readiness to contribute to bilateral cooperation by ratifying any agreements between the two governments, adding that there is ample opportunity for cooperation at the level of Parliamentary Committees and delegations in International Parliamentary organizations. She also indicated that the National Assembly can provide experience-based support in a variety of fields, especially gender equality, to Ghana.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Prof. Oquaye said he was thrilled to be visiting Serbia and the National Assembly, the historic edifice that hosted the founding summit of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Speaker Oquaye said Ghana follows Serbia’s progress and development with great interest, stressing that a combination of Serbia’s experience and knowledge and Ghana’s rich resources could yield significant results in the interest of both countries. He said also that Ghana is interested in cooperation in the field of medicine, as in the past, when Ghanaian students used knowledge gained in Serbia to contribute to Ghana’s development.
Speaker Oquaye said further that Ghana is interested in furthering cooperation with Serbia in the fields of defence, economy, infrastructure, agriculture, science and technology.
The Serbian Assembly Speaker invited Ghana to re-consider its decision to recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo-Metohija and briefed the Ghanaian Parliament Speaker on the course of the talks with Pristina and the state of the endangered Serbian cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo-Metohija.
Prof. Oquaye said he would mention the issue of Kosovo-Metohija to the Foreign Minister and President of Ghana, with the assurance that the matter will be given the needed attention.
Speaker Oquaye also met with the Serbian Prime Minister Ma Brnabic, on Wednesday 30/05/2018, where issues of economic and educational sector cooperation between the two countries were extensively discussed. The Ghanaian Speaker also gave a lecture at the Diplomatic Academy of the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Next year marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Ghana.
Source: Ghana/Starrfmonline.com/103.5FM
