Serbia took over the presidency of the Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI) on Friday at a MARRI Regional Committee Forum in Durres, Albania.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said that Serbia, having assumed the presidency of this regional initiative from Albania, will continue to support the priorities identified by the previous presidencies and will initiate new content, focusing on the area of human trafficking and legal migration.

The Serbian Interior Ministry is strongly committed to engaging in all processes of regional security and regional integration in order to contribute to stability, peace and understanding in the region, Dacic said.

After the forum, Dacic met with representatives of Serbs living in Albania and discussed the issues and details concerning their status.

MARRI members are Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.

Serbia, Albania sign readmission agreement

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and Minister of the Interior of Albania Bujar Nisani signed Friday in Durres a readmission agreement between the two countries.

This agreement represents a further step in cooperation between the two countries in the field of internal affairs, Dacic said.

The relations between the two countries in the internal affairs are good and are being fostered further, which is a significant contribution to overall stability in the region, Dacic said, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

He noted that an agreement on cooperation in the fight against crime, particularly in combating illegal trade in narcotics, arms and human trafficking, has been signed and that relevant inter-state agreements should also be concluded by the two countries.

Dacic attended earlier in the day a forum of the Migration, Asylum, Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI), at which Serbia took over its presidency from Albania.

MARRI members are Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.

After the forum, Dacic met with representatives of Serbs living in Albania and discussed issues and details concerning their status.

According to Dacic, several tens of thousands Serbs live in Albania, and it is important that they get appropriate attention from their mother country in preserving their national identity.