The Serbian-American Friendship Congress (SAFC) has launched the sixth cycle of its Young Leaders Academy, with Gabriel Escobar, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, giving the opening speech. The event was also attended by Serbian Assembly President Ivica Dačić and Member of Parliament and SAFC founder Vladimir Marinković.
In his address to the Academy participants, Escobar highlighted that the Balkans today is what it has always needed to be—one of the fastest-growing regions in Europe. He pointed out the numerous opportunities in Serbia, particularly in the IT industry, IT education, renewable energy, transportation, and tourism. "These are fundamental reasons why we want to maintain good relations with Serbia, which opens up opportunities for economic cooperation. For this reason, we are focusing on educational exchange, entrepreneurship, and American investment in high technology, which we see as the future," said Escobar.
He also noted that U.S. policy has always supported Serbia’s integration into the European Union. "You are already Europeans to us; your economy, history, and culture are European. People from the region have positively contributed to Europe for many years. At the same time, Serbs thrive exceptionally well when they come to America," he concluded.
Serbian Assembly President Ivica Dačić remarked that the United States has clearly communicated its understanding of Serbia’s positions regarding Russia and that the wheel of cooperation between the two countries continues to turn. Speaking at the opening of the sixth cycle of the Young Leaders Academy organized by SAFC, Dačić reminded that the most important state goals of Serbia and America intersect at many points, despite differing views and policies on some crucial issues, such as the relationship with Kosovo and Metohija.
