24.05.2014.
Meeting of the Ministers of Defence of Serbia and Belarus
Minister of Defence of the Republic of Serbia Bratislav Gasic met with Minister of Defence of the Republic of Belarus, Lieutenant-General Yury Viktorovich Zhadobin, during the Third Moscow International Security Conference.
During the talks, they expressed satisfaction that the two colleagues will have the opportunity to contribute to the promotion of cooperation in the field of defence, but also to keep the continuity of high-level meetings, having in mind that last year, Lieutenant General Zhadobin met with the then Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vucic, also in Moscow.
Minister Gasic took the opportunity, first of all, to express gratitude for the assistance provided in manpower and material resources that Belarus sent for repairing the effects of catastrophic floods in Serbia. It was pointed out that Belarus came to rescue on time and helped the life threatened population. They ceded two helicopters, four rescue diving teams, four large generators, 20 portable generators, 30 motor pumps for pumping water, a large amount of canned food, 5,000 wool blankets, 20 tents with 20 sleeping places and other necessities.In the follow-up discussion it was stated that political relations between the two countries were traditionally good and friendly, and that Serbia was truly committed to their development. Minister expressed his gratitude for the support that the Belarusian side provided to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Serbia, as well as our efforts to solve the issue of Kosovo and Metohija by peaceful means, through political dialogue of the stakeholders.
They agreed that the defence cooperation in the previous period was relatively low and not in line with the traditionally good political and general bilateral relations between the two countries. Cooperation can be developed in the area of military-economic and scientific-technical cooperation, as well as through the overhaul and supply of parts for the aircraft, modernization of armament and military equipment. Also, military medical and military educational cooperation were identified as areas of mutual interest.
It was agreed for the forthcoming period to define the general legal framework for cooperation and ensure the continuity of high-level meetings.
