Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday received Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti.
During the meeting, Vucic “expressed satisfaction with the good cooperation with NATO, which is developing with respect of Serbia’s military neutrality.”
He also spoke about his “hope that cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and NATO within the Partnership for Peace program would be enhanced for further capacity-building for contribution to international peace,” Tanjug quoted the presidential press office.
Beta is citing the same statement, to report that Vucic added that the international peace forces in Kosovo and Metohija under NATO leadership had a key role in protecting the Serbian people there, as the guarantor of their security, as well as in preserving stability in the region.
Scaparrotti said he was “pleased that the dialog between Serbia and NATO had intensified at the highest level, while respecting Serbia’s position on military neutrality.”
Adding that there were many opportunities for promoting NATO cooperation with the Army of Serbia, General Scaparotti confirmed that the international forces of KFOR would in future responsibly fulfill their obligations in Kosovo and Metohija.
Also on Wednesday, Scaparrotti was received by Serbia’s Foreign Minister and First Deputy PM Ivica Dacic, when they “discussed the possibilities for deepening cooperation between Serbia and this alliance, and exchanged views on the political situation in the region and security challenges.”
According to the Serbian government, they “agreed that there is a high level and intensity of political dialogue and practical cooperation between Serbia and NATO identified through the Partnership for Peace program, which contributes to better mutual understanding and improvement of relations.”
Dacic reiterated that Serbia is implementing a policy of military neutrality, does not ask for membership in NATO, nor in any other military alliance.
At the same time, he explained that Serbia wants to improve its partnership with the alliance in practical areas and in the sphere of political dialogue in order to provide a common contribution to the preservation of peace and stability in the region.