26.05.2011.

Ministers Sutanovac and Dacic meet with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton

Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic have met today with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton at the Palace of Serbia.

On that occasion, Minister Dacic and the EU Foreign Policy Chief, Catherine Ashton, signed the Agreement on Security Procedures for the Exchange and Protection of Classified Information between our country and the European Union. The document, among other things, is a prerequisite for future engagement of the members of the armed forces of our country in the EU missions.

Speaking about the importance of the signed agreement, Minister Sutanovac stressed that commitment to the European path means also sharing common security risks and threats, including involvement of police and armed forces of our country in peacekeeping missions to ensure stability and security.

- At today's talks I have informed the high-level delegation of the European Union that all political and technical preparations for the engagement of the Serbian Armed Forces in peacekeeping missions in Somalia and Uganda have been completed. After the decision of our Parliament, we expect that the agreement on these engagements will be signed within the next few weeks – Minister Sutanovac said.

According to him, at the meeting it was concluded that the cooperation between the ministries of Defence and Internal Affairs of our country is very fruitful, and that there is a wish that such cooperation is extended to the European Union as a whole, for which there are both capacities and willingness.

Commenting on the arrest of Ratko Mladic which, in addition to signing the agreement, has marked the day, Sutanovac said that Serbia has shown by that act not only a declarative desire to continue on the European path, but it also materialized the efforts in this direction.

Congratulating Minister Dacic and the members of his ministry on the successfully conducted action of arrest today, the High Representative of the European Union Catherine Ashton said that it was good that another war crimes suspect will be brought to justice.

- I am very pleased with the signing of this document, which is a symbol of trust between Serbia and the EU because it is possible now to exchange the documents classified as top secret, which will contribute to a more efficient cooperation – Ashton said , adding that she looks forward to soon signing the agreement on the engagement of our peacekeepers and the EU missions.

- It is very important to participate in the missions dealing with the preservation of peace and conflict resolution. Today we have briefly talked about our mission Atalanta, which deals with fight against piracy along the Somali coast, as well as about the support to the mission in Uganda. We look forward to every possibility of future cooperation – Catherine Ashton said, stressing that by this Serbia will make a significant progress towards the European integration.

Stressing the importance of today's meeting, Minister Dacic identified the signing as a step closer to the family of the European countries.

- The agreement which has been signed today stipulates established procedures and obligations for safeguarding the classified information we exchange, and represents a precondition for approximation of our country to the EU security structures, whether military or police components – Ministar Dacic emphasized, adding that it is also a prerequisite for the involvement of our forces in EU peacekeeping missions, which will contribute to even greater capacity building of the entire security system of our country.

On that occasion, Minister Dacic pointed out very good cooperation with colleagues in the region, in the fields of defence and internal affairs, and mentioned preserving peace and stability as fundamental values in that cooperation.

Today's visit of the EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton to the Serbian capital was marked also by the meeting with Borko Stefanovic, the head of the Serbian negotiating team for Kosovo and Metohija.