04.03.2014.

Minister of Defence meets the Ambassador of Indonesia

Nebojsa Rodic, Minister of Defence met today with the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Republic of Serbia, HE Samuel Samson. During the talks it was pointed out that the two countries have had cooperation based on mutual respect and understanding ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1954, through a very fruitful cooperation within the Non-Aligned Movement, to the present.

Gratitude was expressed to the Republic of Indonesia for providing the principled support to our fight to protect our legitimate interests regarding the unilateral declaration of independence of the so-called ''Kosovo''. Once again it was stressed that Serbia's EU membership is our main foreign policy goal, but it will not affect our desire to cooperate with friendly countries in the East and the West, based on partnership and respect.

Both sides agreed that the overall bilateral relations have significantly improved in the previous period, as evidenced by the just completed Tourism Fair hosted, along with Serbia, by the Republic of Indonesia. It was pointed out that defence cooperation with Indonesia could be enhanced, especially bearing in mind that the Agreement on Defence Cooperation, signed on 13 September 2011, provided the legal framework and conditions for the development and intensification of cooperation, which should be realized in the forthcoming period. They expressed particular satisfaction with the announcement that the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia is to visit the Republic of Serbia by the end of the year, which will be excellent opportunity to establish strategic directions for further bilateral military cooperation.

It is expected that the focus of defence cooperation will be on improving the military medical, military education and military economic cooperation, and cooperation in the fight against terrorism and exchange of experiences on participation in peacekeeping operations, but also in other areas of cooperation of mutual interest.

Minister Rodic informed the Ambassador about the current situation in the Republic of Serbia in the light of the upcoming parliamentary elections, expressing his belief that there will be no changes in our foreign policy priorities, and that the ongoing defence reform process in the Republic of Serbia will continue.

Speaking about his engagement in the Republic of Serbia, Ambassador Samson pointed out that he tried to use all his energy to maximally improve the overall bilateral cooperation and closeness between the two peoples.

At the end of the talks, Minister Rodic thanked the Ambassador Samson on his expressed effort and enthusiasm which, after three years of his residence in Belgrade, left an indelible mark in the development of friendly relations between the two countries.