20.02.2020.
Meeting of State Secretary Živković and Deputy Inspector General of Bundeswehr Rühle
State Secretary Aleksandar Živković met today Deputy Inspector General of Bundeswehr Vice Admiral Joachim Rühle, who stays in official visit to the Republic of Serbia.
At the meeting, State Secretary Živković stressed that Serbia was militarily neutral country, dedicated to peaceful resolution of all issues through talks with Priština, along with protection of its sovereignty, territorial integrity and full respect of Security Council Resolution 1244 and Military Technical Agreement, according to which KFOR is the sole guarantor of security in the territory of Kosovo and Metohija. Živković said that Serbia appreciated several-year-long contribution provided by the German Armed Forces to the KFOR mission, but he also expressed concern with significant downsizing of German contingent in that mission. Request of Serbia is for the overall strength of KFOR not to be diminished, having in mind that it would jeopardise capability of KFOR to fulfil its mandate.Transformation of Kosovo Security Forces into so called “Armed Forces of Kosovo” is absolutely unacceptable for Serbia – State Secreatry Živković stressed adding that unilateral decisions of Priština authorities, apart from representing a flagrant breach of international law, make the security situation in Kosovo and Metohija additionally complex with implications for the entire region.
Mutual conclusion of State Secretary Živković and Vice Admiral Rühle is that developed bilateral relations between Serbia and Germany provide opportunities for advancement of defence cooperation which has been diverse and comprehensive so far, with the focus on areas of military medicine, military education and training.
