Serbia to open diplomatic mission in Jerusalem, president says

Vučić said that Serbia will open a Chamber of Commerce office in Israel’s capital which will be followed by a diplomatic office.

By Aryeh Savir, TPS

Serbia will open an official state office in Jerusalem, the country’s President Aleksandar Vučić announced, the latest country to make this significant diplomatic move.

Speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) 2020 conference on Sunday, Vučić said that Serbia will open a Chamber of Commerce office in Israel’s capital which will be followed by a diplomatic office.

“We’re trying to find the best possible way to do something officially in Jerusalem. We’re going to open very soon not only an office of our chamber of commerce but, together with our chamber of commerce, an official state office in Jerusalem with a Serbian official flag alongside our embassy in Tel Aviv,” he stated.

“That’s our way of showing respect to Jewish people,” he told the conference.

Vučić is considered a friend of Israel and visited the Jewish state in December 2014 while serving as prime minister. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met him in Bulgaria in November 2018 during a Craiova Group summit.

Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili in January officially inaugurated Georgia’s honorary consulate in Israel’s capital.

The U.S. was the first country to make the historic move and relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv in May 2018. Guatemala followed suit shortly after.

The Czech Republic, Hungary, Australia, Honduras and Brazil have opened trade offices in Jerusalem, and Slovakia and Ukraine have plans to open similar diplomatic offices in the city as well.

Australia and Russia have recognized west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.