13.02.2014.

Minister Rodic received NATO JFC Naples Commander

Defence Minister Nebojsa Rodic met with the commander of NATO's Allied Joint Force Command Naples , Admiral Bruce Klingan .

The meeting focused on regional cooperation and the role of the Republic of Serbia in the creation of the security environment in the Balkans , as well as cooperation with NATO within the Partnership for Peace . It particularly emphasizes the importance of cooperation between the Serbian Army and KFOR, the results of which have significant impact on the strengthening of the security situation in the region .

Minister Rodic said that Serbian citizens trust KFOR the most in relation to other international actors engaged in Kosovo and Metohija and to maintain the neutral position of NATO to support the implementation of the Brussels agreement between Belgrade and Pristina. In this regard, it is particularly important to avoid the reduction of KFOR troops, which would lead to difficulties in implementation of the Military Technical Agreement.

Admiral Bruce Klingan was acquainted with the fact that regional cooperation is one of Republic of Serbia’s foreign policy priorities . The upcoming meeting of Deputy Chief of Staff in the framework of cooperation between the defense ministers of South Eastern Europe , which will be held in Belgrade from 10 up to 13 June of this year was particularly stressed among regional initiatives.

The specific contribution of the Republic of Serbia within regional cooperation is through active engagement and promotion of national capacity building in regional centers , such as CBRN Centre , Military Medical Academy , the Military Hospital in Nis , Jug Base , Center for Peacekeeping Operations . In this context, it was pointed out that during July 2013 a new NATO Trust Fund intended to improve the capacity of the Technical Overhaul Institute Kragujevac was set up in order to support the full demilitarization of surplus ordnance in the region .

The commander of the NATO Joint Force Command in Naples, expressed his satisfaction with the high level of communication between Serbia and NATO , as well as a desire to continue good cooperation to both sides’ pleasure.