16.06.2009.

Defense Ministers of Serbia and Cyprus meet

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac and the Cyprus Defense Minister Costas Papacostas met in the House of Guards in Topcider today where they discussed the cooperation in the field of defense and the relations between Serbia and Cyprus and Serbia-EU relations. According to Minister Sutanovac, his Cypriot colleague reiterated Cyprus's unconditional support to Serbia’s course towards the European Union and the position of our country regarding the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence.

„Even though we do not share the same borders, we share the security risks and threats" The relations between the two countries, as was estimated, were at a high level. The Serbian Defense Minister emphasized that the Defense Cooperation Agreement between Serbia and Cyprus would be signed during Sutanovac’s return visit. Furthermore, as he remarked, he had offered his Cypriot counterpart for the Cypriot soldiers to be educated at MMA and MA,

adding that Minister Papacostas would have the opportunity to get familiar with the Serbian defense system during his visit, especially as he would be given a guided tour of the Military Academy and the Military Medical Academy as well as to Yugoimport-SDPR, where he will be presented with resources of the Serbian defense industry.

„Cyprus has the most extensive experience with the military equipment originating from the Foremer Yugoslavia territories, and I am certain that, with the quality of our equipment, we will make room for the realization of some important contracts in the future.

Adding that cooperation in the field of Special Forces had also been under consideration, Sutanovac announced the visit of the Cypriot army next month and their participation in the sports multi event in Nis. Sutanovac informed his colleague of the involvement of our forces in the peace mission in Chad under the patronage of UN, stressing that this was one of the best forms of international military cooperation.

Cypriot Defense Minister said that he had had constructive talks about the defense policies of both countries stressing the cooperation in education, while informing Sutanovac of the current security situation on Cyprus, conveying the message of full support of the Cypriot nation to the Serbian people.

„We will never forget Serbia’s support to our principled policy when it comes to reuniting our nation and the liberation of our territories. We believe that Serbia is an integral part of Europe and that it should become a full EU member state, without the conditioning regarding the Kosovo status. The issue of Kosovo is a question of justice, of territorial integrity and sovereignty, and it should have no effect on obtaining EU membership. Resolving the Kosovo issue should be based on the Final Helsinki Act, international law and on UN map of countries, so we will never recognize Kosovo as an independent country.

Recalling the current negotiations on the reuniting, stating that Cyprus today is the only country in Europe under occupation. According to Papacostas, Republic of Cyprus and its President Dimitris Christofias are investing all efforts to find a good solution and to place the state under one unified and federally organized government.

Defense Minister of Cyprus thanked his serbian counterpart for an exceptional reception, inviting minister Sutanovac to visit Cyprus soon.