09.10.2015.

Minister of Defence meets Japanese Ambassador

Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic and Japanese Ambassador Juichi Takahara discussed today the possibilities for improving cooperation between the two countries in the field of defence.

At the meeting it was concluded that the overall relations between Serbia and Japan are good, and that Japan is one of our most important partners in Asia, and that the defence cooperation should be built to that direction. Development of that cooperation, Gasic believes, would certainly be supported by possible re-opening of the Office of Defence Attache of Japan in Belgrade, as well as the signing of an agreement on cooperation in the field of defence.

Minister Gasic stressed that we develop the defence cooperation with all countries that express an interest in it, in the east and the west, on the basis of partnership and mutual respect, in order to increase operational and functional capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces.

At the meeting they discussed about the security challenges on the ground of Europe, the situation in Ukraine, but also the uncontrolled migrations due to conflicts in the Middle East, and emphasized the necessity of close cooperation of all actors of the international community to prevent the spill over and radicalization of the crisis.

Gasic thanked Ambassador Takahara on the previous grants and loans of Japan, amounting to almost half a billion euros. He pointed out that Serbia remembers especially humanitarian aid after the last year's floods, and the latest example of the aid by the Japanese people is the donation of 150 hybrid and diesel vehicles of the latest generation.