26.01.2024.
Meeting between ministers Vučević and Szalay-Bobrovniczky in Budapest
As part of his official visit to Hungary, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević met with the Hungarian Minister of Defence, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, in Budapest today.
After a welcoming honour guard ceremony and the playing of national anthems, the two ministers had a tête-à-tête and the two delegations held meetings.Minister Vučević expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Defence of Hungary and discuss concrete topics with him.
- Today's meetings are proof of the comprehensive and fruitful cooperation between our countries. I would especially like to emphasize that Hungary and Serbia are strategic partners, friends and more than that. Hungary can always count on Serbia as a reliable partner in the Balkans, i.e., in Southeast Europe. I would like to thank Hungary and the Hungarian Government for supporting Serbia on its European path. We share the same values. We believe in the same Europe. We believe in Europe that has its own tradition and history, but that also has its own future - emphasized Minister Vučević.
A new chapter in defence cooperation has been opened, the Minister of Defence said, which will deal with concrete matters, in accordance with the strategic agreements between Prime Minister Orbán and President Vučić.
- We are ready to cooperate with Hungary on all matters of common interest, relating to security and defence, of course, respecting the fact that Hungary is part of NATO, and Serbia has declared military neutrality - said Minister Vučević. He is particularly pleased with the way strategic agreements are being implemented, as well as with the fact that Serbia buys very useful weapons and military equipment from Hungary, but also sells and supplies the Hungarian Armed Forces with what they need.
He thanked Hungary for its support and defence cooperation.- The Serbian Armed Forces will soon become stronger, particularly our armoured and mechanized units and air defence. That is the most important news, those are useful weapons for us. Hungarian military equipment is arriving in Serbia. Things that are acceptable and compatible with our existing systems and that will make the Serbian Armed Forces stronger and Serbia safer - said Minister Vučević.
At the meeting, the two ministers also discussed the situation in the region.
- I have informed his Excellency of the violation of public international law, the United Nations Security Council resolution regarding the current situation in Kosovo and Metohija. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Hungary for its contribution to KFOR and for the preservation of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. I would also like to wish good luck to the new Commander of the European Union Force in BiH, who comes from Hungary, and I hope that in Bosnia and Herzegovina only political issues will be dealt with, not the issues of security, war and peace - said the Minister of Defence.
The Minister of Defence of Hungary, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, said that Serbia was Hungary’s prominent and strategic partner.- The cooperation between the two countries is exceptional in all fields, including the field of defence, the defence policies of the two countries. We can say that high-level political meetings have become regular and that the two countries foster friendly relations. Last year, at the joint strategic meeting between the two governments, we signed a bilateral defence cooperation agreement, opening a new area of cooperation - the exchange of military technology and military equipment between the two countries. At today's meeting, here in Budapest, we have formed a working group that will work in that field - said the Hungarian Minister of Defence.
The two ministers of defence also discussed political issues in the world, particularly focusing on the Western Balkans region.
- Hungary believes that the Western Balkans is crucial, not only for the security in the region but for the security in the whole of Europe, and in this sense we are determined to preserve that political stability in the Western Balkans, although we are aware that this is a region where conflicts may occur at any time - said Minister of Defence Bobrovniczky.
He praised the role of the Hungarian units deployed in Kosovo and Metohija as part of KFOR and said that in the second half of 2024, Hungary would take over the presidency of the EU Council.- It will be a good opportunity for us to fight for and put our efforts into the enlargement of the European Union, which Hungary has been working on resolutely so far, and we hope that in this period we will be able to help bring Serbia closer to full EU membership - said Minister Bobrovniczky.
Earlier today, Ministers Vučević and Bobrovniczky attended the official opening of the first session of the Serbian-Hungarian Working Group on Defence Industry and Armaments held between the delegation from the Material Resources Sector of the Ministry of Defence and the Hungarian Defence and Armaments Industry.
The delegation visiting Hungary consisted of State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Nemanja Starović, Assistant Minister of Defence for Material Resources Nenad Miloradović, PhD, Head of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Cabinet Žarko Mićin and Head of the Defence Minister’s Cabinet, Brigadier General Goran Momčilović, Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Air Defence Command, Brigadier General Gordan Pavlović, Head of the Defence Technologies Department, Brigadier General Slavko Rakić, advisors to the Minister of Defence Nikola Banjac and Predrag Rajić, and the Serbian Defence Attaché in Hungary, Lieutenant Colonel Predrag Zeljković.