According to ambassador of Ukraine to Serbia Oleksandr Lytvynenko, trade turnover between Ukraine and Serbia is too little. That’s why they need a joint free trade area, which will promote the development of economic ties. It will also help both countries integrate into the European market.
Lytvynenko said that agricultural machinery and machine building are the most promising sectors of the cooperation.
The diplomat also said noted that ethnic style is very popular, as well as all sorts of handicraft items. He added that President Aleksandar Vucic patronized an Ethno-Network. Lytvynenko suggested trying to sell Serbian souvenirs, the same vyshyvankas, which the Serbs have in a different form. He underlined the closeness of Serbian and Ukrainian traditions, despite different roots.
Nevertheless, the ambassador expressed an opinion that now is “not the time to force events.”
Oleksandr Lytvynenko said that Ukraine must gradually strengthen its presence in Serbia. The first task is to strengthen the role of Ukraine in the information space. It is also important to increase cultural and information exchange, so that Ukrainians know more about Serbia, and Serbians know more about Ukraine first-hand.
As the ambassador believes, it is necessary to “bring Ukrainian experts and artists to Serbia, hold exhibitions, especially since there is something to show.”
Simultaneously, Lytvynenko noted that the lion’s share of economic ties between the USSR and Yugoslavia in the 1960s-80s “were, in fact, ties with Ukraine, but the Serbs are unaware of this, and there is much of that.”
As for the prospects of organizing a direct passenger rail link between Kyiv and Belgrade, Lytvynenko suggested to launch Belgrade-Budapest first. After that happens, it will be possible to assess the results.
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