24.05.2023.
Minister Vučević meets with US Senate Delegation
Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević met with a delegation of the Senate of the United States of America and Senators Chris Murphy and Gary Peters who are visiting the Western Balkans region.
During the talks on regional security, Minister Vučević pointed out the constant lack of readiness from representatives of provisional self-government institutions in Priština to discuss the matter of the establishment of the Association of Serb Municipalities, which is an obligation that Priština accepted back in 2015, the guarantor of which is the European Union. He noted that by such conduct Priština unilaterally diminishes the possibility for the establishment of a constructive commencement of a dialogue that would contribute to the final reconciliation in the Western Balkans, continuation of talks on the normalisation of relations, and creation of mutual confidence. The Minister of Defence stressed that the Republic of Serbia will not comply with the attempts of Priština authorities to establish the Association of Serb Municipalities disregarding previously agreed principles.
On that occasion, the Minister of Defence stated that Serbia closely follows the tragic events in Ukraine thus modelling its foreign policy in the spirit of the declared military neutrality, fully adhering to international law as regards the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In that way Serbia defends its national interests and the status in the international community, and it is steadfastly oriented towards remaining a promoter of dialogue and a stability factor in the region.
At the meeting, the interlocutors discussed possibilities to achieve a stronger partnership between Serbia and the US in the field of defence, and they underlined the importance of creating opportunities for the intensification of further cooperation. Minister Vučević highlighted clearly visible indicators of a significant progress made in mutual relations that are being achieved in the field of defence. In addition, the Minister of Defence emphasised the diversity of areas of mutual interest where the cooperation is carried out, stressing the newly established field of joint participation in multinational peacekeeping operations.
Members of the US Senate delegation expressed their satisfaction with the meeting with the representatives of the Ministry of Defence, and they conveyed hope that defence cooperation between the two states would be intensified in the period to come. Also, they concurred that the establishment of the Association of Serb Municipalities is an obligation undertaken by Priština which needs to be fulfilled.