19.07.2017.
Intensive cooperation with Austria
Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin met with Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, Johannes Eigner.
In an open dialogue, they exchanged opinions and ideas for deepening overall and particularly defence cooperation, with the conclusion that intensive cooperation in this area is following and encouraging the overall quality of relations between the two countries, which, according to senior officials, have been at the highest level in the last 100 years. Therefore, Vulin emphasized that as the defence minister he will give maximum contribution to the further development of relations between the two countries, in which he expects the whole-hearted support of Ambassador Eigner as well.
As an example of excellent cooperation, Minister Vulin also mentioned the involvement of members of the Austrian police who together with the Serbian military and police forces control the border area towards Macedonia, and thanked for the offer to donate equipment that would make it easier for the Joint Forces to protect the border area.
Bilateral relations between Serbia and Austria are characterized by intense political dialogue, regular contacts of top officials, developed economic cooperation, cooperation in the process of European integration of Serbia, potentials for development of regional cooperation, excellent military, police and cooperation in the field of culture, and the difference is evident only in relation to the issue of the status of Kosovo and Metohija.
Bearing this in mind, Minister Vulin emphasized that the Community of Serb Municipalities should be urgently established in order to maintain political stability, to continue the negotiations, economic empowerment of Serbs and their return to Kosovo and Metohija. Otherwise, Vulin said, our confidence would be even more shaken, both to the other side and to the EU, as an intermediary in Brussels talks, because our outstretched hand has not yet been truly accepted.
Vulin thanked for the professional engagement of Austrian KFOR members in the preservation of peace in the southern Serbian province, as well as the transferred position of a military observer in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Middle East of UNTSO, and confirmed the intention to keep Serbia in that position in the upcoming period.
Participants in the meeting also discussed the current security situation in the light of the migrant crisis and the increased danger of terrorism, and it was concluded that the credits that Serbia gets for its approach to the migrant crisis are realistic. At the same time, this is an example of good cooperation with the EU, as confirmed by President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, during his talks with President Vučić
The Minister of Defence once again underlined that the migrant crisis creates a specific situation and is a common problem, the solution of which must be achieved by the agreement between the EU and the entire international community, and Serbia has repeatedly urged greater confidence and understanding of European countries in this, but also in other common issues and problems.
