23 November 2025
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric stated on Friday that Botswana supports Serbia’s position on Kosovo, for which he expressed special gratitude, noting that the two countries share an understanding of the need to respect international law as the foundation for preserving peace in the world.
Botswana’s Minister of International Affairs, Phenyo Butale, in Serbia on official engagements, emphasised that his country and Serbia share the same values, especially when it comes to respecting international law and preserving territorial integrity.
During the official visit to Belgrade, Honourable Dr. Phenyo Butale, and His Excellency Marko Đurić, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation across key sectors. Serbia agreed to expand its scholarship and academic exchange programmes, providing greater opportunities for Botswana students and professionals to benefit from Serbia’s strong tradition of scientific and technical excellence.
“Botswana has returned the friendship by supporting our position on the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo and Metohija, and we are particularly grateful to Botswana for its support of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia,” Djuric said at a joint press conference after his meeting with Botswana’s Minister of International Affairs Phenyo Butale.
He also said that he informed his colleague about the current situation in Kosovo.
“Serbia and Botswana share a broader understanding of the need to respect international law as the foundation for preserving peace and equality in the world, which is extremely important in today’s circumstances,” Djuric said.
He underlined that Minister Butale’s visit is the first visit of a foreign minister of Botswana to Serbia, adding that strengthening ties with the peoples and states of the African continent is a major priority for Serbia.
“Botswana and Serbia share a 55–year friendship that began when our country and Botswana jointly supported the liberation of the African continent.
This meeting represents not only confirmation of the long friendship between the two countries, but also a new impulse for cooperation within the broader strategy for mutual connectivity, through the deepening of political, economic, cultural and overall ties,” the Serbian foreign minister said.
He noted that Serbia had been very present in Botswana, as Serbian companies had built important structures in Gaborone, and that there is also a Church of Saint Sava located in the Southern African country. He invited the guests to participate in Expo 2027, reminding them that 130 countries had already confirmed their participation.
In support of Botswana’s national development priorities, Serbia pledged to collaborate in the areas of industrialisation and agricultural upscaling, offering technical partnerships that will enhance productivity, innovation, and skills transfer.
Furthermore, Serbia expressed its readiness to advance visa-free travel arrangements for holders of diplomatic and official passports, paving the way for future consideration of eased travel for ordinary passport holders and deeper people-to-people engagement.
For his part, Botswana’s Minister of International Affairs Phenyo Butale stated that his country and Serbia share the same values, and that they hold the same positions regarding respect for international law and territorial integrity.
“Serbia is a country that has rich experience in relations with Africa, a country that always stood by Africa during the struggle for independence. It is a country that has close ties with Africa.
We share common values, we hold the same positions regarding respect for international law and in connection with territorial integrity,” Butale underlined.
He pointed out that the most famous Serb, Nikola Tesla, thanks to whom our modern world is illuminated, proved that even small nations can shape the destiny of all humankind. Butale emphasised that Botswana wishes to foster precisely that spirit of innovation and, in this regard, would like to enhance cooperation in the fields of science, art and diplomacy.
“We want to further deepen our relations in order to achieve the ambitious plans we have as a state. We recognise Serbia as a nation that has advanced education and scientific excellence.
We also invest heavily in education. Schooling is free in Botswana, and in that area, we would like cooperation with Serbia,” he added.
Butale said that Botswana wants to improve economic cooperation, to build the future together with Serbia through creativity, new technologies and human potential.
“We have meaningful cooperation and friendship, and I am pleased that you even have an Africa Day that you celebrate. We look forward to new ways and forms of cooperation.
Botswana is a small country in the southern part of Africa. We are known for diamonds and beef that we export to Europe, but we are also a nation undergoing transformation. We want to industrialise. We are undergoing rapid industrialisation and would like your businesspeople to open their offices and participate in our economy,” Butale said.
He stated that there is great potential in the mining sector, as only 30% of the territory has been surveyed in this regard.
“There is a lot of potential in agriculture, digitalisation and many other spheres. Our conversation focused precisely on our joint engagement. We want to learn from Serbia’s experience,” he said, adding that work on signing a cooperation framework had been agreed upon.
Butale highlighted that since the two countries believe in the same system of values, they will cooperate within that framework in the international arena.
“I hope for even greater interaction between our peoples through student exchanges. I look forward to deepening and strengthening relations with Serbia,” Botswana’s Minister of International Affairs said.
Serbia formally invited Botswana to participate in the Serbia 2027 Expo, as well as the country’s leading Tourism and Agricultural Fairs, creating new platforms for trade, investment promotion, and showcasing Botswana’s national strengths to broader European markets. Lastly,Serbia further pledged to vote for Botswana in its efforts to lead UNESCO world heritage committee and in other multilateral and international forums.
These developments mark a significant step forward in the friendship between Botswana and Serbia, anchored in shared values and a mutual desire for sustainable growth, innovation, and international cooperation.
Source: https://shorturl.at/zOHam
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