29.05.2009.
Austria provides full support to Serbia's EU integrations
The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Serbia Dragan Sutanovac held talks with the Austrian Defense Minister in Vienna today Norber Darabosch regarding the support this country intends to provide to the whole integration process of Serbia to EU, as well as cooperation of the defense industries of the two countries and the defense reforms.
After the talks, Sutanovac stated at the press conference that Austria was one of Serbia’s most important foreign partners, and that both ministries and armies had excellent cooperation.
He reminded that Austria was one of largest investors in Serbia, and that is experiences within PfP, and its military neutrality and the reforms of armed forces could be of great use to Serbia.
"We agreed that we shared same security space yet that we should also share the same values”, said the Serbian Defense Minister adding that the topic of asymmetrical threats had also been part of the talks.”
Sutanovac also added that Austria had a very developed military industry and that Serbia was extremely interested in establishing good cooperation with its defense industry in order to consider other opportunities for cooperation in arms and military equipment production.
He also expressed great pleasure with Austria having accepted to participate at the international air show in Batajnica to be held in September 2009, adding that this event was of great symbolic importance which requires the gathering of a large number of countries.
Austrian Minister of Defense reiterated that Serbia had its full support in its process of approximation to EU and in the reform of armed forces.
”For us, in EU, the reforms of SAF are an extremely important process since it can approximate Serbia to EU even more”, as Darabosch said, assessing that Serbia was an important factor of stability in the Balkans which is why it merits all kind of support in integration process.
He mentioned training as a possibility for developing cooperation between the tow armies, joint activities in NBC protection and exchange of experience in military medicine.
The tow ministers also expressed their readiness to cooperate when it comes to participation of the two armies in peace missions in the world.
Earlier today, Sutanovac, accompanied by his colleague Darabosch, laid a commemorative wreath to the Tomb to an Unknown Hero following a ceremony where the honorary company of the Austrian Guards, the Austrian military orchestra and a number of tourists and citizens participated.
“Glory be to all fallen heroes, and innocent victims who laid their lives to freedom and liberty. To eternal friendship! To Serbia and Austria”, were the lines inscribed by Minister Sutanovac in the memory book after having laid the commemorative wreath.
Beta news agency
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