Serbia has a need to constantly be present on the American continent to be able to protect its national and state interest in the best way, Foreign Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic said during his visit to Bogotá, RTS reported on Saturday.

Addressing the 49^th session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in the Colombian capital Dacic said that Serbia has become an observer state in many American associations, with the OAS as the largest ones.

He noted despite of geographic distance, Serbia has recognized the same fundamental principles and values on which it bases its foreign policy, including respect of the basic principles of the UN Charter – respect for the international law, sovereignty of states, human rights, peaceful co-existence, democracy, cooperation and solidarity.

Dacic also said that out of 35 states on the American continent Serbia managed to change the political perspective and now 19 countries do not recognize Kosovo, while 16 countries do. “One year ago, the situation was different,” Dacic recalled, adding that Suriname, Grenada and Dominican Republic suspended i.e. annulled the recognition of Kosovo independence.

Dacic also spoke about forthcoming Interpol General Assembly session to take place in October this year in Chile, saying it is not yet certain if Kosovo membership request would be on the agenda, but in case it gets there it is very important for Serbia to preserve the result of the previous voting.

“It means we must speak individually with many states and that is why our presence here is very important,” Dacic underlined. Following the visit to Colombia, Dacic would visit Panama to attend the inauguration of a new president there, and then continue to Peru to attend the summit of Pacific Alliance.