06.10.2014.
Meeting of Minister of Defence and Head of the UN Office in Belgrade
Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic and the Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office in Belgrade Peter Due talked about participation of members of the Armed Forces of Serbia in multinational operations and about the upcoming regional meeting of troop-contributing countries at the United Nations.Gasic stressed that cooperation between the Ministry of Defence and the UN is highly important for the continuation of reform processes and our country’s progress in the EU integration process. Defence Minister also stressed the importance of UNMIK and KFOR presence in Kosovo and Metohija, pointing out that international forces are the main guarantee for security. He thanked for the help and swift engagement of the UN in resolving the issues caused by the floods in Serbia, with the expectation that this cooperation will be continued.
At the meeting, Bratislav Gasic also said that we have become an exporter of security after being an importer in previous times, with determination to further improve engagement and cooperation with other countries in this field. The two interlocutors discussed the current presence and perspective of further deployment of members of the Armed Forces of Serbia in UN and EU multinational operations.
Head of the UN Office in Belgrade Peter Due said that Serbia has become a leader in the region when it comes to active participation in peacekeeping operations. Due thanked Gasic for the great contribution in peacekeeping operations, with over 200 SAF members, during the recent deployment of our peacekeeping units in the Central African Republic, and for the decision to soon deploy peacekeeping units in Mali.Gasic and Due agreed that the upcoming Regional Meeting of Troop-Contributing Countries in the UN which will be held October 20-21 in Belgrade is the best confirmation of the competence and credibility of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces in the international community. Participation has been confirmed for Herve Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations; Lieutenant General Maqsood Ahmed, first UN soldier serving at the level of Assistant Secretary-General; Macedonian Minister of Defence Zoran Jolevski and other high officials of countries in the region, EU, OSCE and NATO.
PHOTOGALLERY
VIDEOGALLERY- The meeting [FLV]
