24.07.2017.
Minister Vulin on a visit to Israel
Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin has met today in Tel Aviv with his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman. Ministers Vulin and Lieberman agreed on the necessity of regular meetings at the highest level with the aim of exchanging views on current issues and opening new forms of cooperation, bearing in mind that this is the first meeting of defence ministers of the two countries as part of the exchange of visits since 2003. Minister Vulin stressed that Serbia attaches great importance to bilateral defence cooperation with Israel, which is confirmed by this meeting because this is his first official visit abroad since his taking office as Minister of Defence.
"Serbia should have the best possible communication with Israel but it is certainly also necessary for our two ministries. It is a great pleasure for me that I had opportunity to talk with Minister Lieberman, and how much he appreciates cooperation with Serbia can be seen in the fact that he received us at the very moment when Israel is in an extremely big crisis, faced with a whole wave of terrorist attacks and great political tension. This tells how much Serbia is valued in Israel and how much Serbia's position is different compared to some previous times", Minister Vulin assessed in his statement after the meeting with Minister Lieberman.
At the meeting, it was stated that the level of established political relations between the two countries provided an excellent basis for enhancing defence cooperation, and additional reasons are strong historical link and the common victims and the sufferings of the two peoples. Minister Vulin pointed out that the Republic of Serbia highly appreciates the support of the State of Israel in defending the principles of international law, is grateful for the firm position and support in preserving territorial integrity and sovereignty and for not recognizing the self-proclaimed "state" of Kosovo.
"Today, we signed an Agreement on Mutual Co-operation between the two Ministries of Defence. This opens the door wide to cooperation between both our defence industries and our ministries. We are always on the same side in the fight for democracy and fight against terrorism. Serbia respects Israel, and Israel shows respect for Serbia. I have thanked Israel today for its significant support when it comes to fight against the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo and Metohija, and personally to Minister Lieberman, who was the chairman of the Parliamentary Group of Serbian-Israeli friendship and a man who honestly respects and supports us", Minister Vulin said in his statement after the meeting.
Assessing the today's meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Minister Vulin stressed that it had been a good, cordial and friendly meeting of people from the countries that understand each other. "Minister Lieberman expressed his thanks particularly for the way in which the Republic of Serbia treats the memory of Jewish victims, the Holocaust, for the respect it shows to the Jewish victims, and for the fact that the Serbian people have never been on the side of Nazism and that it has never been anti-Semitic", Minister Vulin said, stressing that Minister Lieberman also respects the position of our Government, which has provided economic compensation for all Jewish victims. The Serbian government ensured that the Jewish community, no matter how big or small it was, remains large in the historic memory of the Serbian people, protected and economically preserved.
Earlier that day, Minister Vulin visited Cyberbit company of the Israeli Defence Industry, within the expressed commitment of both parties to start mutually beneficial cooperation through concrete ideas and project proposals. "Israeli defence industry is among the world's most developed and powerful .defence industries. Israel is the world's absolute leader in the production of security software, and Serbia has something to learn. Of course, there is a demand for our products, for our ammunition, even for our more complicated systems", Minister Vulin said after the meeting with Cyberbit, stressing that this it was an excellent opportunity to improve the cooperation, develop and demonstrate in this way how much defence industries can be compatible and how they can meet the needs of both sides.
Minister Vulin also touched upon the visit of the then Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić to Israel two and a half years ago. "The visit of the Serbian Prime Minister is still remembered in Israel, and everything that was done afterwards on the development of relations between the two countries is highly valued. Minister Lieberman personally welcomed President Vučić and voiced his hope that he would continue with his strong and firm policy. The world respects people who are telling the truth and people who represent their nation without compromise and no matter where they were", Minister Vulin said.
At the end of today's meeting in Tel Aviv, Minister Vulin invited his colleague Lieberman to visit Serbia next year.
PHOTOGALLERY
VIDEOGALLERY
mp4 