13.09.2022.
Minister Stefanović Meets Ambassadors of Quint and Norway
Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović PhD met ambassadors of Quint countries and the Kingdom of Norway to NATO and Serbia, led by United States Permanent Representative to NATO Julianne Smith, with whom he talked about defence cooperation, and current security situation in the region and world.
Minister Stefanović underlined that visits and talks are very important for the exchange of views, building confidence and mutual understanding between our peoples, which makes the basis for the development of all forms of cooperation in mutual interest. He stressed that the membership of the European Union is the foreign policy priority of the Republic of Serbia, and that military neutrality is our strategic orientation.
Serbia is satisfied with the results achieved through the participation in activities under the auspices of NATO Partnership for Peace Programme, which represents an optimal framework of cooperation for us, the aim of which is to enhance our defence capabilities and security stability, the minister said. As he assessed, joint exercises, the participation in UN and EU peacekeeping missions, and the cooperation of military medical teams are all important for the enhancement of operational capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces.
Minister Stefanović evaluated as very significant the cooperation of the Serbian Armed Forces with KFOR, as NATO mission that is a guarantor of the security of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. On that opportunity, the minister reiterated that Serbia is oriented towards dialogue pointing out that we are well aware of the significance of the preservation of peace and stability, but he also noted unilateral moves taken by the provisional institutions from Priština, which, as he stated, are damaging to the Albanians themselves and threated the entire region.
He said that Serbia supports EU operation ALTEA, as well as the territorial integrity and sovereignty of not only B&H, but of all internationally recognised states, but it also expects the same from the international community when it comes to Serbia. As he pointed out, Serbia builds bridges of cooperation with all its neighbours aimed at economic growth of the entire region, setting the differences aside, which is supported by the initiative of President Vučić named the “Open Balkas”, and with its rather concrete moves, Serbia shows in practice that it is oriented towards the preservation of peace and stability of the Western Balkans.
At the meeting, the ambassadors of the Quint and Norway expressed their appreciation for the engagement of our country in the Partnership for Peace Programme and that NATO respects the military neutrality of Serbia. They underlined that in the light of the conflict in Ukraine, they are dedicated to the preservation of stability in the Balkans, and they also stated their belief that Serbia plays an important role in that which is why it is important to preserve the partnership and understanding with our country.
They also emphasised their appreciation of Serbian efforts to preserve regional stability, and of the contribution of the Serbian Armed Forces to UN and EU peacekeeping missions worldwide, whose participation is important for the interoperability of armed force. They expressed their orientation towards continued engagement of further enhancement of military cooperation of Serbia with their respective states and the Alliance in segments of mutual interest.
Apart from Ambassador Smith, the meeting was attend by United Kingdom Permanent Representative to NATO David Quarrey, their colleague from France Muriel Domenach, from Germany Rüdiger König, from Italy Francesco Taloò and Norway Øystein Bø, and the ambassadors to Serbia from the United States Christopher Hill, from the United Kingdom Sian Macleod, from France Pierre Cochard, from Norway Jørn Gjelstad, from Italy Deputy Ambassador Giuseppe Cirillo and the Special Envoy of the Kingdom of Norway for the Western Balkans Arne Bjornstad.
At the meeting, Minister Stefanović was accompanied by Assistant Minister for Defence Policy Predrag Bandić, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Petar Cvetković and Deputy Director of the Military Intelligence Agency Colonel Dejan Pajić.
