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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Serbia, Slovenia sign agreement on defence cooperation

Belgrade/Ljubljana, 8 April 2009

Serbian Minister of Defence Dragan Sutanovac and his Slovene counterpart Ljubica Jelusic signed today in Ljubljana an agreement on defence cooperation.

Dragan Sutanovac, left, and Ljubica Jelusic

Author: Fonet

Following the signing of the agreement, Sutanovac gave his appreciation for Slovenia’s support over Serbia’s EU integration and visa liberalisation.

He pointed out that the Serbian Army is interested in exchanging experiences with the Slovene Army, adding that he informed representatives from the Slovene Defence Ministry about the possibility of their staff attending the Military Academy and the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade.

Serbia is also interested in exchanging experiences when it comes to peacekeeping operations, stressed the Minister.

Sutanovac said that Serbia is not happy with the fact that peacekeeping troops have been deployed in its territory, noting that the Serbian government is well aware that KFOR is doing all it can to provide security for both Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo-Metohija.

The Serbian Defence Minister specified that the two sides also discussed possibilities for cooperation over military diplomacy, peacekeeping operations and defence reforms.

He said that they also discussed regional initiatives and concluded that there should be adequate regional initiatives and links. In our opinion this is in the interest of Slovenia and Serbia, said Sutanovac, recalling that besides EU integration Serbia’s other main goal is to establish good relations in the region.

Slovenian Defence Minister Ljubica Jelusic said that she is pleased that the first meeting between the defence ministers of the two countries has taken place, adding that Slovenia will readily share experiences with Serbia.

We want to make EU integration and security and defence reforms easier for Serbia, said Jelusic.

She said that at today’s meeting with the Serbian Defence Ministry delegation Slovenia’s experiences concerning UN peace keeping operations during the past 12 years were discussed, adding that the agreement will provide a legal basis for future cooperation between the two countries.

She said that members of the Slovenian air force will be honoured to participate in the air show to be held at the Batajnica Airport near Belgrade in September this year.