Q:
A:
Serbia committed to peace
Belgrade,
28 December 2012
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vucic said in an interview for the magazine "Odbrana” (Defence) that Serbia is committed to peace, but it is exposed to numerous security threats and challenges, most of which originate from the territory of Kosovo-Metohija.
Vucic said that the biggest security challenge is the southern Serbian province and that there is always the fear and danger that the Albanians might attack the Serbian population.
We hope that international factors will prevent this, but also the good judgement of Albanians, the First Deputy Prime Minister said, recalling that during his recent visit to the United States he asked Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta that U.S. troops remain in the territory of Kosovo-Metohija in order to protect the Serbian population.
We were assured by the American side that they will meet our demand before the decision of the NATO council in February, which is very important for our country, Vucic underlined.
He pointed to the excellent cooperation with all the countries whose soldiers are deployed in the southern Serbian province, and stressed that there is mutual understanding and comprehension of the complexity of the situation, which is why it is very important that KFOR guarantees peace and security to the Serbian population.
The cooperation of the Serbian Army and the Ministry of Defence with other armies and ministries should be a bridge in creating friendships. We are using the Partnership for Peace programme to establish the best possible cooperation with many Western countries. At the same time, we have established a serious cooperation with the Russian Army. This is to confirm that we follow the decisions made by the Serbian parliament and what is written in our Constitution, Vucic said.
The First Deputy Prime Minister noted that the export advantage of our military industry is that Serbia can produce what is included in the so-called Russian and NATO standards.
When it comes to regional cooperation in the Balkans and south-eastern Europe, Vucic stressed that it is important that there is a rational, responsible and pragmatic cooperation.
We must and we want to cooperate, but that should be on completely realistic and rational grounds, the First Deputy Prime Minister underlined.
Vucic, who is also the head of the Office for coordination of security services, said that the work of security agencies in Serbia is professional and that he has no objections, but that he would like to see an even greater commitment to work.
He voiced hope that in the next years the budget for the defence will be bigger so that the Serbian Army could be better equipped.
We hope that international factors will prevent this, but also the good judgement of Albanians, the First Deputy Prime Minister said, recalling that during his recent visit to the United States he asked Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta that U.S. troops remain in the territory of Kosovo-Metohija in order to protect the Serbian population.
We were assured by the American side that they will meet our demand before the decision of the NATO council in February, which is very important for our country, Vucic underlined.
He pointed to the excellent cooperation with all the countries whose soldiers are deployed in the southern Serbian province, and stressed that there is mutual understanding and comprehension of the complexity of the situation, which is why it is very important that KFOR guarantees peace and security to the Serbian population.
The cooperation of the Serbian Army and the Ministry of Defence with other armies and ministries should be a bridge in creating friendships. We are using the Partnership for Peace programme to establish the best possible cooperation with many Western countries. At the same time, we have established a serious cooperation with the Russian Army. This is to confirm that we follow the decisions made by the Serbian parliament and what is written in our Constitution, Vucic said.
The First Deputy Prime Minister noted that the export advantage of our military industry is that Serbia can produce what is included in the so-called Russian and NATO standards.
When it comes to regional cooperation in the Balkans and south-eastern Europe, Vucic stressed that it is important that there is a rational, responsible and pragmatic cooperation.
We must and we want to cooperate, but that should be on completely realistic and rational grounds, the First Deputy Prime Minister underlined.
Vucic, who is also the head of the Office for coordination of security services, said that the work of security agencies in Serbia is professional and that he has no objections, but that he would like to see an even greater commitment to work.
He voiced hope that in the next years the budget for the defence will be bigger so that the Serbian Army could be better equipped.
-
Belgrade, 29 October 2024State moves to minimise advertising for betting shops
-
Belgrade/Berlin, 28 January 2016Fences cannot stop migrations
-
Belgrade, 7 January 2016Serbia to experience dynamic economic growth in 2016
-
Belgrade, 31 December 2015Serbia will persevere on path of development, reforms
-
Belgrade, 30 December 2015Ground for Serbia’s progress set
-
Belgrade, 28 December 2015
Serbia ready for improvement of cooperation with Russia
-
Belgrade, 22 December 2015Serbia ready to open six more chapters next year
-
Belgrade, 21 December 2015Serbia to be part of EU by 2020
-
Belgrade, 20 December 2015Serbia ready for EU membership by 2019
-
Belgrade, 16 December 2015Chapter 35 not substitute for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue