25.04.2017.
Meeting of Serbian and Russian Defence Ministers
The Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic has met today in Moscow the Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
During the meeting the interlocutors talked about the participation of Serbia in the 6th Conference on International Security in Moscow and participation of Minister Djordjevic in the mentioned gathering. Two ministers have analyzed the collaboration so far, as well as the perspectives of the future bilateral military cooperation stating that the defence relations have been improved despite complex surroundings.
Mr. Djordjevic and Shoigu agreed that Serbia and the Russian Federation carefully protect their relations defined by the Declaration on the Strategic Partnership. Minister Shoigu used the opportunity to congratulate Aleksandar Vucic on his election to the post of the President of Serbia, stressing that his election to the post of the supreme commander of the Serbian Armed Forces will be a guarantee for preservation and enhancement of the quality of the established relations.
Minister Djordjevic said that Serbia is committed to military neutrality and emphasized that the advancement in the accession negotiations for the full EU membership does not diminish the cooperation we have with the Russian Federation. Serbia is interested in expansion of the collaboration with the Collective Security Treaty Organization this and the following years. Mr. Djordjevic confirmed the intention to raise activities in this organization from the observer level to the active participant level since September 2017 when the members of the Serbian Armed Forces will actively take part in the exercise “Unbreakable Brotherhood 2017” in Kazakhstan.
Mr. Djordjevic emphasized Serbia’s readiness to accept the organization of the Youth Forum on the topic “The current problems in providing Eurasian security”. He thanked Minister Shoigu for the offer for education of the Serbian personnel in Siberian Counter-Narcotic Training Institute. The participation in the proposed activities will be considered in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, Mr. Djordjevic confirmed.
The Serbian Defence Minister thanked his Russian counterpart for the invitation to take part in the International Military Technical Forum “Army 2017”, as well as for the total support that Russia gives to Serbia.
The assistance, which Russia renders to Serbia in preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty on Kosovo and Metohija is of vital importance for us, especially at the moments of expressing rather serious threats to our national interests, Mr. Djordjevic said and stressed that despite certain uncalled-for statements coming from the neighbourhood, Serbia, as the greatest state and leader in the region, continues to be the promoter of stability in this part of Europe.
The migrant crisis was also discussed at the meeting, whose consequences Serbia feels as the transit country. Thus, Minister Djordjevic emphasized that Serbia would support the actions of all parties whose aim is calming the situation in Serbia.
The Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic will participate in the work of the 6th Conference on International Security, which is held tomorrow in Moscow.
PHOTOGALLERY
VIDEOGALLERY26.04.2017
mp4 (4,26 MB)The meeting
