26.11.2014.

Gasic and Benko on military cooperation

Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic and Head of the General Staff of Hungary General Tibor Benko stressed that regional military cooperation is a significant factor for stability and prosperity of this part of Europe. Gasic and Benko stressed that joint deployment in the multinational operation in Cyprus and many years of conducting joint exercises are the best proof of development of military cooperation of Serbia and Hungary, which also affects the good neighboring relations. As they stated, the quality of field cooperation between Serbian and Hungarian soldiers is remarkable.

Head of the General Staff of Hungary stressed that building firm cooperation is in both countries’ interest. General Benko informed Minister Gasic about the Hungary’s decision to reduce the number of deployed members in Afghanistan and increase its deployments in KFOR in Kosovo and Metohija.

Bratislav Gasic stressed that Serbia highly appreciates Hungary’s support in the process of Euro integration of our country, and their opinion that Serbia is the central country in the process of EU’s enlargement to countries of the Western Balkans and an important factor in this respect. Minister of Defence stressed that high-level meetings between the two countries contribute to mutual understanding in the region. At the end of the meeting, he once again thanked for the help Hungary had sent Serbia during and after the floods.

The interlocutors concluded that holding bilateral defence consultations is a good strategy, because they concretize future joint activities and fields of cooperation. Aside from military exercises and participation in multinational operations, Serbia and Hungary cooperate intensively in domains of military aviation and joint training of military observers.

The meeting was also attended by Head of the General Staff of Serbia General Ljubisa Dikovic and newly appointed Ambassador of Hungary to Serbia Attila Pinter, who was congratulated by Minister of Defence on his appointment and the newly taken role.