Zimbabwe–Serbia relations

Zimbabwe–Serbia relations

Zimbabwe	Serbia

Zimbabwe–Serbia relations are bilateral ties between Zimbabwe and Serbia. Since the time of former Yugoslavia, relations between the two nations have been close and friendly. Yugoslavia was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, which Zimbabwe is also a part of.

The conference center built in 1985 for the 1986 Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Zimbabwe was built by Serbian company Energoprojekt holding, as was Mugabe's personal home. Robert Mugabe met Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito in Brijuni, Yugoslavia, and again in Havana, Cuba in 1979. When Tito died in 1980, Mugabe and a state delegation attended his funeral. Mugabe described Yugoslavia as the nation other non-aligned countries, especially African nations, went to for economic and technological needs.^[1]

In 2014, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe expressed his desire to rebuild and continue the friendship between Serbia and Zimbabwe, and described Serbia as the "only country in the world that [Zimbabwe] can consider a perfect friend," and that Serbia is Zimbabwe's only foreign ally. Mugabe also invited Serbian minister Ivan Mrkić to Zimbabwe to begin talks on joint projects in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, information technology and mining.^[2] Zimbabwe has an embassy in Belgrade,^[3] and Serbia has an embassy in Harare.^[4]

References

1. Editorial Staff. "Interview With President Mugabe by Serbian Broadcasting." African Globe Net. African Globe, 04 Feb. 2014. Web. 12 May 2016.
2. BIRN. "Mugabe Seeks Serbian Deals for Zimbabwe." Balkan Insight. Balkan Insight, 12 Feb. 2014. Web. 12 May 2016. http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/mugabe-grasping-at-serbian-straws.
3. "Zimbabwe Embassy in Serbia." Visa HQ. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2016.
4. "Serbian Embassies and Consulates." Goabroad.com. Go Abroad, n.d. Web. 12 May 2016.