01.04.2016.
Minister Djordjevic at the Central European Initiative ministerial meeting
Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic has participated today in Vienna in an expanded meeting of defence ministers of the Central European Defence Cooperation (CEDC) initiative at the invitation of the Minister for Defence and Sports of the Republic of Austria, Hans Peter Doskozil. The meeting was attended by the defence ministers of Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Poland, Montenegro and Macedonia.Participation of the Minister of Defence at the meeting was the opportunity to highlight the efforts of the Republic of Serbia so far to act as a responsible member of the international community and to provide an adequate response to the current crisis caused by the large number of migrants in the Balkans.
Minister Djordjevic emphasized that the current migrant crisis has shown that the security of a region cannot be seen in isolation from the rest of the world. He pointed out that the only right and efficient solution is the stabilization of crisis areas, for which it is necessary to resolutely work to achieve long-term solutions and create conditions for the return of refugees and migrants.
He informed the participants that the Republic of Serbia would continue to follow the decisions of the European Union and other countries that are on the route of migrants streamlining its further operation accordingly. However, it will strive to protect its own interests, not allowing to be turned into a "reception centre" for migrants who will be no longer able to travel to Western Europe due to the decision of some countries to close their borders.
Djordjevic said that the Republic of Serbia is a reliable and constructive partner in solving the migrant crisis, but that the final solution is expected from Europe. Members of the Serbian Armed Forces were engaged in the preparation and establishment of transit centres, where the military medical service continually offered migrants medical assistance and primary health care. In addition, they took regular hygiene and epidemiological measures, control and oversight.Minister Djordjevic also pointed out that the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia is ready to talk to all CEDC member states, as well as with its neighbours, about the possibility of joint engagement of the members of the armed forces during the migrant crisis and improving the cross-border cooperation. Addressing the current crisis and preparing for a possible escalation require good internal collaboration and coordination of all the relevant actors of the affected countries, as well as cooperation and coordination at the regional level, Central and South-Eastern Europe and Europe as a whole.
Defence ministers presented their national positions on the declaration entitled "Options to support migration management with special focus on the protection of external borders of the EU and humanitarian assistance''. They also prepared appropriate proposals for the EU defence ministers meeting to be held in Brussels on 19th April 2016. They also talked about the establishment of a mechanism of a clearinghouse through which the countries that are on the Western Balkan route would put forward requests for specific assistance they need to adequately address the migrant crisis.
Due to the need of harmonizing the legislation at the national levels, the ministers agreed to consolidate the text of the declaration by 12th April 2016 in additional consultations, to be delivered in the form of a letter to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, for consideration at a EU defence ministers meeting to be held in Brussels on 19th April 2016.
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