24.10.2012.
State Secretary Nikolic receives Director of RACVIAC
State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Aleksandar Nikolic received Ambassador Branimir Mandic in the first official visit after his appointment as director of the Centre for Security Cooperation RACVIAC (Regional Arms Control Verification and Implementation Assistance Centre).During the discussion they pointed out the strong support of the Ministry of Defence to the Centre for Security Cooperation RACVIAC and the intention to intensify cooperation in the forthcoming period.
Since the signing of the Agreement on RACVIAC, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia has participated in all the activities of the Centre for Security Cooperation RACVIAC and fulfilling all its obligations under the Agreement. Collaboration with the Centre for Security Cooperation RACVIAC contributes to the strengthening of regional security capacities, as well as building confidence in the region of the Southeast Europe in the field of security and defence. In the forthcoming period, the intention is to significantly improve the active participation in the work of RACVIAC by posting a Permanent Representative of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia to the position of Program Manager of RACVIAC, and assuming the Chairmanship of the Multinational Advisory Group (MAG).
Ambassador Mandic stressed that the Republic of Serbia as a member of RACVIAC, plays a key role in the operation and new expansion of the RACVIAC mission, with the aim that the Centre becomes an international organization for dialogue and security cooperation in the Southeast Europe. In his capacity as Director of RACVIAC and a Permanent Advisor of MAG, he particularly stressed the need to invest maximum efforts to achieve the agreement regarding the future taking over of the MAG Chairmanship. Responsibility for security in the region is the matter of agreement and in this context Ambassador Mandic expressed the expectations that in the future period, there will be reached a compromise over taking over the MAG Chairmanship and that the best possible solution, acceptable to all members, associate members and observers in RACVIAC will be found.