16.11.2017.
Meeting with Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg
President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić met Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg in NATO Headquarters.
On that occasion President Vučić stated that Serbia was military neutral, but that it also developed its cooperation with NATO in the framework of Partnership for Peace because it was significant for all.
At today’s meeting, the President asked that the forces of the military alliance remained in Kosovo and Metohija and asked Jens Stoltenberg “not only to prevent abolishing the forces, but to continue their presence in undiminished scope in Kosovo and Metohija” – President Vučić underlined at the joint press conference with Jens Stoltenberg following the participation in the NATO Council meeting.
“I thanked Stoltenberg and NATO members for maintaining peace and stability in K&M, primarily to the KFOR units. The role of NATO in ensuring safety and security of our people, and for our sacred objects, is of extreme importance” President Vučić said.
Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg evaluated today that a strong and prosperous Serbia meant more security and stability in the Western Balkans region, and that the cooperation with NATO ensures greater security for Serbia and its partners in the western military alliance.
Stoltenberg said that the partnership between NATO and Serbia was making rather good progress.
According to him, there are no contradictions between the military neutrality and strong partnership between Serbia and NATO. He reminded that there were many NATO partners among neutral countries. Stoltenberg expressed great satisfaction with the fact that Serbia had offered to host the next year’s joint natural disaster rapid reaction exercise.
“We welcome the fact that we can meet in such a way, since NATO and Serbia are faced with common challenges, and the cooperation with NATO came beneficial for Serbia and the region. Our partnership makes Serbia safer and more secure, and NATO allies are also safer at the same time” Stoltenberg explained. He pointed to the fact that each year there were more than 100 partner activities with Serbia and that NATO worked on a reform of Serbian security institutions, trained Serbian officers for peacekeeping missions. Stoltenberg commended the progress of Serbia towards the EU, particularly in the times when NATO and the European Union cooperate more closely than ever. “It is my honour to have you here in NATO Headquarters and I thank you for your personal dedication to the Euro Atlantic cooperation which is indispensable for all our citizens” Stoltenberg concluded.
Prior to the visit to NATO Headquarters, President Aleksandar Vučić met High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin was a member of the delegation which visited Brussels.
