06.10.2017.
Confirmation of Good Cooperation between Serbia and Austria
Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin met today the Minister of Defence and Sports of Austria, Hans Peter Doskozil. Minister Vulin was greeted in Vienna with the highest military honours.
After the meeting, Minister Vulin stated that Austria and Serbia are facing similar challenges, and the migrant crisis is one of them. “Today, we have talked about how we can control the consequences of the migrant crisis together, how to cooperate on the exchange of information and how through technical assistance promised to us by the Ministry of Defence of Austria we can better control our border thus preventing illegal migration”.Speaking about the consequences of the migrant crisis, Minister Vulin stressed that unless the European Union had a unique approach which was necessary for both Austria and Serbia, it would be very difficult for the EU to describe itself as an organised political group and it would not be able to respond to the problems of the migratory crisis.
During today’s visit, Minister Vulin talked with his Austrian colleague about the opportunities for the enhancement of cooperation in the field of defence between the two countries.
- Today, we have agreed that the Ministry of Defence of Serbia and the Ministry of Defence of Austria should sign a new Agreement on cooperation in the field of defence and thus once again confirm a good cooperation, to reconfirm that our ministries and our armed forces cooperate well and for the wellbeing of our peoples and our countries and for the wellbeing of the entire Europe. That is another way in which we can cooperate better when it comes to the migrant crisis and in that way we help all European countries.The two ministers agreed that the military neutrality is the best solution for the ministries of Serbia and Austria. – It is the only solution that guarantees that you will pursue an independent foreign policy and that you will lead an autonomous internal policy, that you will be able to develop your country, your military, the way you think is right. That is precisely why our two countries have something to talk about, why they have similar experiences and similar perspective when it comes to the most significant challenges of the modern world - Minister Vulin pointed out and on that occasion thanked Austria for the role of its military within KFOR in Kosovo and Metohija.
Minister Vulin underlined that our country deems it to be absolutely unacceptable to reduce the number of members of KFOR, the political influence of UMNIK as well as to establish the military in Kosovo and Metohija since “it is only KFOR that can be an armed force and no one else”.Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin and Federal Minister of Defence and Sports Hans Peter Doskozil signed today in Vienna a Protocol on Donation of 30 Night Vision Binoculars intended for our forces engaged on securing the state border and prevention of illegal crossings of the migrants.
Earlier during the day, Minister Vulin laid wreaths at the Monument to Fighters against fascism at the Central cemetery.
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