22.03.2017.
Defence Minister at the meeting of the Global Coalition against ISIL
Defence Minister Zoran Đorđevic, on behalf of the Serbian Government, participated in the Global Coalition against ISIL ministerial in Washington.
During the introductory part of the meeting, the delegations were addressed by representatives of the United Nations, the Central Command of the US Armed Forces, the State Department and the Australian Government. Each of the speakers presented, in the fields of their competences, the actions taken to date, plans for further involvement, the current situation in the field and the functioning of ISIL. They stressed the need for continued engagement of the Global Coalition in the fight against ISIL, but also creating conditions for the return and normalization of life for over 11 million Iraqis, including refugees and internally displaced persons, returnees and those who are affected by the operation of ISIL in cities and areas which have not yet been liberated.The plenary part of the meeting, after an introductory speech by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Iraqi Prime Minister Jawad Khadum Al-Abadi, gave the participants an opportunity to highlight their current contributions to the fight against ISIL, but also to present the next steps and capacities they are going to engage in the forthcoming period. They accentuated the success of the joint military engagement, which is in the final stage to defeat ISIL. There is a need for further engagement on the remaining challenges for stabilisation of the liberated territories, national reconciliation and the political process in Iraq, as well as finding a suitable political solution in Syria. During the Conference, Minister Đorđević conveyed the position of Serbia regarding the future performance in the fight against ISIL, stressing Serbia's readiness to contribute to the fight of Global Coalition, in line with its capabilities and national interests, and donation of medicines and medical supplies to help the civilian population in combat operations zones and in the territories that have been liberated.
The Republic of Serbia, pursuant to the decisions of the highest state officials, was among the first countries to opt for providing an active contribution to the Global Coalition in accordance with its capabilities and to the international efforts in countering ISIL, as operation of this and similar organizations is a challenge to security at the global level.It is estimated that, in the territory of Iraq and Syria, there are currently about 500 "foreign fighters" from the Balkans, and the largest number of such persons come from the territory of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and, as a preventive measure, Serbia amended the Criminal Procedure Code in order to create conditions for the prevention of incitement, organizing others and participation in wars or conflicts in foreign countries.
Bearing in mind that, apart from a large number of migrants, transit of persons who could be related to the operations of terrorist organizations has also been recorded over the Balkan route, the Government of the Republic of Serbia supported the development of the Strategy for Combating Terrorism. Large capacities have been engaged in the identification and registration of migrants crossing the Serbian territory, and such data are exchanged with foreign partners and in this sense, the contribution of Serbia is reflected, above all, in its willingness to share information, intelligence and security services.
The Global Coalition against ISIL ministerial was attended by more than 70 foreign ministers, defence ministers, ambassadors and representatives of the international organizations. Minister Đorđević used his stay in Washington to have a series of meetings with important officials from the State Department and the Pentagon.
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VIDEOGALLERY22.03.2017
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