13.02.2009.

Ministers of Defense of Serbia and Portugal meet

The Minister of Defense of Dragan Sutanovac met with the Minister of Defense of Portugal Nuno Severiano Tejeira. Both ministers signed a Cooperation Agreement in the field of Defense.

Minister Sutanovac said on that occasion that the Agreement he had signed with Teijeria represented a new beginning in the relations of both countries, thanking Portugal for its support on Serbia’s European path.

Sutanovac said that both sides had expressed their interest in cooperation in the fields of training and exchange of experiences. The Portuguese Armed Forces could participate in some important SAF promotional activities such as the air show planned for the second half of this year, announced Minister Sutanovac.

The Serbian defense minister added that both sides showed intention to cooperate in the fields of military economy announcing that he had accepted his Portuguese counbterpart’s invitation to pay a return visit, and that in order to imrpve cooperation a visit at technical level will be organized.

- I am pleased that we have signed this agreement as Serbia is considered a key player in the Western Balkans, and we appreciate Serbia’s efforts to establish a successful multilateral cooperation”, said Minister Tijeiro.

Minister of Portugal added that this contract was a sign of political will of the Portuguese Government to continue cooperation with Serbia and that it would mean a new cycle in the relations of both countries. This would, as he said, strengthen the cooperation between two countries, especially in the field of training and exchange of experience.

–We are also considering the possibility of cooperation in the field of defense industry and medicine. This agreement demonstrates our god will to promote the cooperation between two nations and armies and with the European nations”, said in his media statement the Portuguese Defense Minister.
Answering the journalists’ question regarding Serbia’s cooperation with the NATO, Minister Sutanovac answered:

- Today’s visit is a bilateral visit. The fact remains that in the previous period NATO had made some decisions, which had not strengthened the bond between Serbia and NATO and that there are some NATO member states which had not recognized Kosovo’s independence and which advocate our interests before the Alliance. We aim at gaining as many partners as possible and today we talked about the problems pertaining to the Kosovo issue. I have clearly stated our position trying to convince my counterpart that all these aforementioned functions are not in the best interest of the stability in the region. Portugal, of course, advocates NATIO’s views, however, if we have managed in shifting their views for at least an inch then I can safely ay that we have got ourselves an ally which can advocate our interests in at least one part.