18.12.2015.
Harmonisation of Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan with France
Cooperation in the field of defence is intense and follows the achieved level of development of bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of France, pointed out Head of the International Military Cooperation Department Navy Captain Milan Konjikovac and Head of the Department for Bilateral Cooperation of the French Armed Forces General Staff Navy Captain Alexis Wheeler during the regular defence consultations in Belgrade.
Both sides agreed that high percentage of implemented activities in the past few years confirm rational approach in planning, according to financial circumstances. This applies in particular to cooperation in the areas of deployment to multinational operations, as well as military educational and military technical cooperation. They agreed that in the forthcoming period an extra effort should be made in order to use potentials for cooperation, in accordance with the Agreement on Strategic Partnership.The interlocutors exchanged their views on the political and security situation in the region and the world, with a focus on current migratory crisis. They agreed that the new security challenges impose the need for more intensive cooperation, particularly in intelligence sharing and logistical support, but also in the area of joint action.
Navy Captain Konjikovac underlined his satisfaction with the opening of the first chapter in the process of Serbia's EU accession, and thanked France for its support. His French counterpart, Navy Captain Wheeler stressed that France expects bilateral assistance and support of all EU member states in the areas of operations of their armed forces and that the changing security circumstances influenced the reorganization of legislative and security sector, in accordance with national interests and international role of France.
At the end of the talks, the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2016 was agreed.
During the visit, the delegation of the French Armed Forces visited the Peacekeeping Operations Centre of the Serbian Armed Forces.
