31.08.2022.
Meeting between Minister Stefanović and U.S. Congressman Turner
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, has met today with U.S. Congressman Michael Turner, who is paying an official visit to the Republic of Serbia, to discuss defence cooperation between the two countries.
According to Minister Stefanović, the cooperation is in an upward trend, following the improvement in overall relations between the two countries and contributing to the further development thereof. Another important segment of cooperation is joint training activities between the Serbian and the U.S. armed forces, which contribute to the exchange of experience and knowledge and improve the operational capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces. Stefanović and Turner agreed that the successful cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ohio National Guard was one of the most powerful levers for the two countries’ defence cooperation, and they expressed commitment to developing it further, particularly in the military to military and military-medical spheres, as well as through cooperation between engineer units.
Minister Stefanović also emphasized the importance of U.S. donations to Serbia’s defence system, amounting to more than 47 million dollars over the past ten years, including the latest donations - BearCat G3 armoured vehicles for the Military Police, diving equipment for the 72nd Special Operations Brigade and a 64 slice CT scanner and a mobile x-ray machine for the "Karaburma" Military Hospital.
Stefanović and Turner agreed that historical ties between our nations, who had been strong allies and fought together in two world wars, provided a sound basis for the further development of partnership and cooperation. According to them, high-level visits and talks also contribute to better understanding and strengthening of cooperation in areas of mutual interest.According to Minister Stefanović, Serbia, led by President Aleksandar Vučić, is firmly committed to preserving both national and international peace and stability, for which there are multiple concrete indicators.
Stefanović and Turner also discussed the possibility of cooperation between members of the two armed forces in the peacekeeping mission in Sinai. Minister Stefanović highlighted the good cooperation between the Serbian Armed forces and KFOR, reminding of the latter’s role and importance in ensuring security for the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija, but also of the unilateral moves by the temporary institutions in Pristina.
According to Minister Stefanović, Serbia shows its commitment to peace and stability with the Open Balkan initiative, launched by President Vučić and aimed at the economic development of the entire region and the creation of better living conditions for everyone in these parts, despite our mutual differences.Congressman Turner thanked Minister Stefanović for the warm welcome, expressing his appreciation for the role of Serbia and President Vučić in preserving regional peace and stability. He emphasized the contribution of good defence cooperation to the development of overall relations between our countries and expressed his expectation that the cooperation would be improved in all areas of mutual interest in the forthcoming period.
The U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill, assistants to the Minister of Defence for Material Resources and Defence Policy Nenad Miloradović, PhD, and Predrag Bandić, and the director of the Military Intelligence Agency, Major General Zoran Stojković, also attended the meeting.
