09.10.2012.
State Secretary Nikolic meets with US Ambassador Kirby
State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Aleksandar Nikolic met today with U.S. Ambassador Michael Kirby.Topics of discussion were related to the exchange of views and opinions on promoting further cooperation in defence between the two countries. Both sides agreed that bilateral was well-developed, but there is still room for its further improvement and upgrading.
State Secretary Nikolic thanked the U.S. side on the expert and financial assistance and support for the development and equipping of the “Jug” military base and "Humanitarian assistance" project that are of particular importance for the improvement of bilateral relations between Serbia and the United States.He stressed that for SAF the most important forms of cooperation were joint training and joint exercises, where the members of our army can gain invaluable experience to work in a multinational environment. In addition, the Secretary of State Nikolic said that the primary interest of the Ministry of Defense concerning bilateral military cooperation was continued education and training of personnel, implementation of agreed projects and modernization of equipment, as well as supporting the process of professionalization of the Serbian Army. He expressed his very positive impressions to the US ambassador of the recently held meeting of defense ministers of Southeast Europe in Sarajevo.
Ambassador Kirby said that the U.S. were very much interested in continuing to improve bilateral military cooperation. Although the US is facing the consequences of the global economic crisis, the U.S. will try to ensure the realization of all projects agreed upon so far including activities in order to maintain the achieved level of cooperation and preserve the basis for its further improvement. He particularly emphasized the importance of promoting regional cooperation and definition of mechanisms for joint response to asymmetric and contemporary transnational challenges, risks and threats.The U.S. Ambassador stressed that the visit of the First Vice president of the Serbian Government and Defense Minister Aleksandar Vucic is expected with great interest which will be a great opportunity to establish and strengthen, joint interests for the promotion of cooperation in defense and other segments of society at such a high military-political level.
