Ukraine returns to negotiations with Serbia on free trade area – ambassador

Ukraine has too little trade turnover with Serbia and has currently returned to negotiations on creating a joint free trade area, which will promote the development of economic ties and could be a positive step in the context of the European integration of both countries, Ambassador of Ukraine to Serbia Oleksandr Lytvynenko notes.

"We have a very small trade turnover. Both countries are following the path of European integration, and this is extremely positive. In this situation, it is advisable to launch a free trade area. Now we have returned to negotiations with the Serbs on creating such a area. I hope that in some time we will reach a common understanding," Lytvynenko said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

When asked about the most promising sectors, he named machine building—"primarily agricultural machinery."

"There are also simpler things that I think we need to do. Ethnic style is very popular here, all sorts of handicraft items. There is an Ethno-Network here patronized by President Aleksandar Vucic. Why shouldn’t we try to sell our souvenirs, the same vyshyvankas, which the Serbs have in a different form? Our traditions are very close; they are different, but the roots are the same," the diplomat said.

At the same time, when asked what else could be done to develop bilateral relations, the ambassador replied that, in his opinion, now is "not the time to force events."

"We must gradually strengthen our presence. First of all, we need to strengthen our role in the information space. Increasing cultural and information exchange so that we know more about Serbia, and in Serbia they know more about Ukraine not from Russia television, but first-hand," Lytvynenko said.

The ambassador believes that it is necessary to "bring Ukrainian experts and artists to Serbia, hold exhibitions, especially since there is something to show."

At the same time, he 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."

When asked about the prospects of organizing a direct passenger rail link between Kyiv and Belgrade, Lytvynenko said: "Let them first launch Belgrade-Budapest. When that happens, then we can look into it."