12.03.2020.
Bilateral consultations between Serbia and the United Kingdom in the field of security and defence policy
Bilateral consultations between the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the field of security and defence policy, held on 9-10 March in London were an opportunity for the exchange of opinions on the topics of mutual interest, focusing on opportunities for further development of bilateral relations in the field of security and defence policies of the two countries. Special attention was paid to the situation in the Western Balkans region through the initiatives for creating stronger regional ties and the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština.
The delegation of the Republic of Serbia consisting of the Acting Assistant Minister for Defence Policy, Milan Ranković and the Assistant Minister for Security Policy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Branimir Filipović, presented in detail Serbia's foreign policy priorities, with an emphasis on the EU integration process, the situation in the Western Balkans region - particularly in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as the current state of the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština. They also pointed out that it is imperative for the continuation of the dialogue to abolish the discriminatory taxes on goods imported from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which Priština unilaterally introduced a year and a half ago.Assistant Minister Ranković expressed gratitude for the engagement of the members of the British Armed Forces in KFOR mission in Kosovo and Metohija and said that the transformation of the so-called "Kosovo Security Force" into the so-called "Kosovo Armed Forces” is unacceptable for Serbia and is a flagrant violation of UNSCR 1244. He said that for Serbia, KFOR is the only legitimate armed force in the southern Serbian province responsible for maintaining peace and security, and that Serbia strongly opposes the accreditation of the so-called "Kosovo defence attaches" to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
During their stay in London, a separate meeting of the Assistant Minister Ranković and the Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Military Strategy and Defence Engagement) Major General Steve McMahon was held at the British Ministry of Defence. At the meeting it was assessed that the cooperation in the field of defence is developed, that there is strong commitment for its continuation, and that the next strategic dialogue will be held in Belgrade in 2021.