31.08.2017.

Through Intensive Dialogue to Strategic Partnership

Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin and the Ambassador of the Italian Republic, Giuseppe Manzo talked today about further enhancement of cooperation between the two countries in the field of defence.

Minister Vulin and Ambassador Manzo agreed that Serbia and Italy are not only friendly countries but strategic partners who base the foundation for the enhancement in all the areas on an intensive dialogue and frequent high level meetings which is confirmed by the summits of the governments of Serbia and Italy.

Vulin confirmed that the Ministry of Defence remains committed to the focal areas of cooperation in the field of education and professional advancement, joint participation in peacekeeping operations, intelligence-reconnaissance activities and military medical cooperation. Concurrently, as the minister of defence said, excellent military to military cooperation, apart from training of special units and teams for disposal of unexploded explosive ordnance, will be additionally enhanced by the participation in joint exercises, while the strengthening cooperation in the field of Air Force will be contributed by the forthcoming visit by Air Force and Air Defence Commander to his Italian colleagues.

Vulin said that Italy is also a first rate economic partner and one of the leading investors and he particularly singled out the significance of the enhancement of military economic cooperation which is of mutual interest.

During the meeting, few words were dedicated to the current security situation both in the world and the region, so Minister Vulin said that Serbia endeavours to equally cooperate with all the countries of the world dedicated to the policy of peace, honouring international law, territorial integrity and sovereignty.

-In such circumstances, we are trying, by peaceful means, to secure a normal life of the Serbian community in the area of Kosovo and Metohija where we only recognise KFOR as a partner and factor of stability – Vulin underscored and thanked once again to the members of the Armed Forces of Italy for the professional engagement within KFOR.

- The intention of Priština to become a member of UNESCO represents unilateral move which infringes the UN Charter and the applicable resolution and has an adverse effect on the further course of the dialogue which is currently in a rather sensitive phase – underlined the minister of defence and concluded that the goal was to maintain political stability in the area, continuation of negotiations with the representatives of Interim Bodies of Self-Government in Priština, economic empowerment of Serbs and continuation of providing support for their return.