03.03.2016.

Defence Minister talks with the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee

Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic met with the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee General Petr Pavel. The meeting was attended by Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic.

In his talks with General Pavel Minister Djordjevic underlined the neutrality of the Republic of Serbia in relation to the existing military-political alliances, and added that, in line with the foreign policy goals, we are oriented towards cooperation both with the East and the West. At the meeting they exchanged opinions on the security situation in the region and the world, including all the aspects that current migratory crisis brings. They also talked about cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and KFOR and the continuation of cooperation with NATO.

Minister Djordjevic pointed out that the Partnership for Peace programme is the optimum framework for cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and NATO and said that it may be assessed as excellent, as confirmed in the practice of high level visits, signing of the Individual Partnership Action Plan, Status of Forces Agreement, and the Agreement with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency which established the basis for the destruction of surplus arms and military equipment and improvement of the capacity of the Technical Overhaul Institute in Kragujevac. They particularly emphasized partnership relation and the importance of cooperation in the field between the members of the Serbian Armed Forces and KFOR. Minister Djordjevic said that the presence of KFOR in Kosovo and Metohija is of crucial importance for the protection of non-Albanian population, as well as our national, cultural, historical and religious heritage.

Speaking about the foreign policy orientation of the Republic of Serbia, the Defence Minister stressed that our most important goal is the membership of the European Union. The Republic of Serbia strongly contributes to the improvement of regional cooperation and is a regional leader by its participation in multinational operations of the United Nations, thus giving full contribution to the enhancement of world peace and security. The Republic of Serbia uses all available mechanisms and implements reforms to improve the defence system.

General Pavel pointed out that NATO respects the neutrality policy implemented by the Government of the Republic of Serbia. He stressed that he understands the sensitivity of the geopolitical position of Serbia and added that he believes that Serbia is a pillar of stability in the region. Pavel expressed his satisfaction with the positive trend of development of relations between Serbia and NATO in the last ten years and the improvement of cooperation and mutual understanding.

The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee stressed that NATO carries out its tasks through the collective defence, cooperative security and crisis management. Although in the past period the main task was the process of crisis management, the most important goal of NATO remains the construction of cooperative security in an environment in which the decisions will be based on the mutual interest.