03.06.2016.

Minister Djordjevic and General Dikovic with the students of the Royal College of Defence

Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic and Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic met today with students of the British Royal College of Defence. On this occasion, Minister Djordjevic presented the position of our country regarding the current security issues in the region and the world as well as the development vision of the Serbian Armed Forces in the future.

Djordjevic pointed out that our country pursues a policy of military neutrality and that it is a big contributor in international peace support missions under the auspices of the UN and the EU.

- Our foreign policy is based on the so-called four pillars, or building relationships with the United States, the Russian Federation, the European Union and China. Our long-term determination is membership of the European Union – the minister said. He recalled the remarkable results of economic reforms that have been carried out in our country in the past few years and that GDP growth exceeded expectations and that in 2017 it will, in all probability, reach the level of four percent. This, according to him, will facilitate the process of the EU accession of our country but will also have a positive impact on the growth of investments to the defence system.

General Dikovic said that the Serbian Armed Forces maintains a high level of cooperation with all relevant actors of the international security

and seek thereby to increase the level of its operational capabilities.

- Today we all have the same enemy – terrorism, and only together we can resist such a challenge –Dikovic pointed out.

Participants in the highest form of military advanced studies in the UK were interested in the position of our country in terms of harmonization with the European Union foreign and security policy.

Minister Djordjevic pointed out that there are EU member countries which have reserved the right to be militarily neutral, considering that Serbia should be allowed to have this position as long as such a decision of the National Assembly is effective. The minister recalled that the relations between the US and the EU on one hand, and the Russian Federation on the other hand showed signs of recovery due to common challenges they face, especially in the Middle East. He underlined that Serbia can play a role of a bridge in rebuilding confidence and good relations between the East and the West as it maintains good relations with everyone.