11.06.2013.
Bilateral defence consultations in France
The delegation of the Ministry of Defense led by Assistant Minister for Defence Miroslav Jovanovic, participated in regular bilateral defense consultations in the Republic of France.Assistant Minister for Defence was received by the Deputy Chief of French Armed forces Lieutenant General Mer. During the conversation, they exchanged views on political and security situation in the Western Balkans, focusing on Kosovo, regional cooperation and European integration of the Republic of Serbia. The French side emphasized the strong support to Serbia’s efforts of EU accession process and the efforts to create a secure environment in Southeast Europe.
The bureau chief "Cooperation North" in the French GS Department of International Organizations of France, Colonel Jerome Lockhart expressed his satisfaction with the progress made in the field of defense cooperation and the importance of continuity of high-level meetings in order to define the strategic guidelines for cooperation in conditions of limited defence budgets. During the meeting, key elements of the recently adopted White Paper on Defense were presented – a strategic document in the field of planning and defense policy of France, and the experience of involvement in multinational operations, with a focus on the operation in Mali.
Assistant Minister Jovanovic said that the tradition of cooperation between the two countries has been long and diverse. In recent years, transnational co-operation has taken place within the framework of the strategic cooperation agreement between the governments of Serbia and the Republic of France, which was signed in 2011 where such a broadly defined framework of cooperation provides opportunities for its further improvement.
It was concluded that the defense cooperation is principally focused on the field of military education, training, and joint involvement in multinational operations, military-technical and military-economic cooperation.
Furthermore, the reciprocity in the implementation of training of officers at all levels of education was emphasized. They discussed the modalities of joint involvement in multinational operations, military-economic and scientific-technical cooperation, support projects of national and regional importance, such as in the field of the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union.During the bilateral defense consultations a complex analysis of the activities was conducted while at the same time harmonizing the bilateral military cooperation plan for 2013 signed by the Head of Bilateral Relations in the Department of International Military Cooperation Milan Konjikovac Lieutenant Colonel Jerome Lockhart.
Defense consultations were concluded with the signing of a letter of invitation of the Minister of Defence of the Republic of France, Jean-Yves Le Drian to the Minister of Defence of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic to pay an official visit to France.
