10.10.2014.
Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan with the Kingdom of Spain signed
The Delegation of the Ministry of Defence paid a visit to the Kingdom of Spain for the third bilateral defence consultations. During the meeting at the Defence Policy Sector at the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Spain, Colonel Milan Konjikovac, Acting Chief of the Department for International Military Cooperation and Naval Captain Carlos Mate San Roman, Head of the Defence Diplomacy Department agreed that the bilateral cooperation in the field of defence is good. It has been stated that, considering the level of entire cooperation and traditionally good relations between the two countries, there is enough room for its improvement. Even with the economic crisis and restrictive budget policy of both ministries, scheduled activities for 2015 will contribute to further quantitative and qualitative improvement of cooperation in the field of defence.A high level of agreement has been reached during the discussion on matters of political security situation in the region of the western Balkan and current global security challenges.
Colonel Konjikovac stressed that the Republic of Serbia highly appreciates Kingdom of Spain’s firm and unchanged position of not recognizing the unilateral independence of Kosovo and its abidance to the international law, and thanked for its sincere support to the most important priorities of Republic of Serbia’s foreign policy: preserving territorial integrity, European integrations and strengthening regional cooperation.
He introduced his interlocutors with the achieved level of the defence system reform and the most significant results, stressing that, after the definition of legal frame and signing of Agreement on cooperation in the field of defence in 2009, the bilateral military cooperation has been significantly improved.
Konjikovac stressed that the will for the improvement and the significance that Serbia attributes to its cooperation with Spain was displayed by choosing it as the most significant partner in joint deployment in multinational operations. Serbia will continue to assign great importance to UN values and to the field of peacekeeping operations, and joint deployment with members of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Spain in the UN mission in Lebanon represents a great example of professional cooperation, and creating of friendly relations on the field. Another example of the successful cooperation is joint training of parachuting teams of the Armed Forces of Serbia and the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Spain, with the use of a wind tunnel.
Colonel Konjikovac thanked for including members of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Serbia into the Program of Subsidy Education in the Kingdom of Spain, and for their attendance of Spanish courses in Belgrade. A significant step in the military education cooperation was made when SAF officers were referred to the Command-Staff Course in Spain. On the basis of reciprocity, the Ministry of Defence offers further education of members of the Spanish Armed Forces on all levels in the Republic of Serbia. He suggested intensifying of military economic and cooperation in the field of CBRN in the next period.
Naval Captain Roman stressed that Serbia is the highest priority state for cooperation in the Balkans for the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Spain, and that there are no unresolved issues between the two countries. They are proud that Serbia chose Spain to be its partner in the joint deployment in the multinational operation within the UNIFIL Mission in Lebanon, which represents the pinnacle of cooperation between the two militaries. He pointed out positive experiences, skillfulness and professionalism of members of the Armed Forces deployed with members of the Spanish Armed Forces in Lebanon.The focal points of the cooperation are exchange of practices, training and joint participation in multinational operations and joint training of special forces. Roman conveyed his firm belief that the cooperation could expand to military educational and military medical field in the future as well.
Special attention was given to the process of EU integrations of Serbia. They offered help and exchange of experiences from engagement within the frame of Common Security and Defence Policy, EU combat groups and EU Defence Agency.
Both sides confirmed the dedication to continue meetings on the Ministry and General Staff level in order to define strategic guidelines for improving cooperation in the field of defence.
After the bilateral defence consultations, in separate meetings, the Delegation was received by Admiral Juan Martinez Nunez, Defence Policy Director, and Brigadier General Ruiz de Gordoa, Head of the International Business and Planning.
At the end of the meetings, the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2015 was signed.
