Serbian, Russian defense ministers discuss cooperation

MOSCOW Serbia’s First Deputy PM and Defense Minister Aleksandar Vucic met with Russian Defense Minister Segei Shoigu in Moscow on Thursday morning. Vucic and Shoigu discussed the implementation of the agreement on cooperation in the defense sector. Serbian, Russian defense ministers discuss cooperation “The procurement of Russian aircraft and radar systems for the Serbian Army should be completed soon,” Vucic stressed. “We launched the matter of procurement of aircraft and radar systems to ensure better functioning and operative capacities of the Serbian Armed Forces and it should soon be concluded,” he said after meeting with his Russian colleague. He announced that six-member delegation of Russian experts would visit Serbia next week and conduct technical talks with local experts. The first deputy PM and defense minister expressed expectation that the procurement of aircraft and radar systems should begin soon. “This will depend on the Friday meeting because this is also a political matter,” the minister said referring to the Friday meeting between Serbian and Russian presidents in Sochi, which he and Shoigu will also attend. He expressed belief that everything would turn out well. “Aircraft and missile systems will be purchased by means of a commodity loan which should be granted by Russia,” Vucic explained. The two ministers discussed a military-technical agreement which should be signed when Shoigu pays an official visit to Serbia on October 1-2. The meeting lasted around 40 minutes, twice longer than planned, and it also covered the enhancement of military-medical and military-educational cooperation, as well as the regional Serbian-Russian humanitarian centre in the southern Serbian town of Nis. “We need greater exchange between the two armies,” Vucic underscored and expressed gratitude to Shoigu for the political support which the Russian Federation provided in the protection of Serbia's territorial integrity. Shoigu welcomed the Serbian delegation and confirmed his visit to Belgrade in October. A Serbian delegation led by President Tomislav Nikolic will arrive in Russia on Friday. Vucic will on Friday join the Serbian delegation led by the president and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi. Nikolic and Putin will discuss cooperation between Serbia and Russia, including bilateral, political, economic and military-technical cooperation. “We expect a declaration on strategic partnership, which will become a basic document for development of our friendly cooperation, to be signed during meetings in Sochi,” Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandar Chepurin has said. Vucic participate in an international conference on European security in Moscow today and met with Greek Defense Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and State Secretary in the Slovenian Defense Ministry Zoran Klemencic. Defense ministers of European countries, representatives of the EU member states, representatives of all NATO countries, except for Ireland, OSCE representatives, military experts and U.S. secretary of state’s envoy are taking part in the conference dubbed Military and Political Aspects of European Security. Aleksandar Vucic (Beta, file) Beta Tanjug

Serbian, Russian defense ministers discuss cooperation

“The procurement of Russian aircraft and radar systems for the Serbian Army should be completed soon,” Vučić stressed.

“We launched the matter of procurement of aircraft and radar systems to ensure better functioning and operative capacities of the Serbian Armed Forces and it should soon be concluded,” he said after meeting with his Russian colleague.

He announced that six-member delegation of Russian experts would visit Serbia next week and conduct technical talks with local experts.

The first deputy PM and defense minister expressed expectation that the procurement of aircraft and radar systems should begin soon.

“This will depend on the Friday meeting because this is also a political matter,” the minister said referring to the Friday meeting between Serbian and Russian presidents in Sochi, which he and Shoigu will also attend. He expressed belief that everything would turn out well.

“Aircraft and missile systems will be purchased by means of a commodity loan which should be granted by Russia,” Vučić explained.

The two ministers discussed a military-technical agreement which should be signed when Shoigu pays an official visit to Serbia on October 1-2.

The meeting lasted around 40 minutes, twice longer than planned, and it also covered the enhancement of military-medical and military-educational cooperation, as well as the regional Serbian-Russian humanitarian centre in the southern Serbian town of Niš.

“We need greater exchange between the two armies,” Vučić underscored and expressed gratitude to Shoigu for the political support which the Russian Federation provided in the protection of Serbia's territorial integrity.

Shoigu welcomed the Serbian delegation and confirmed his visit to Belgrade in October.

A Serbian delegation led by President Tomislav Nikolić will arrive in Russia on Friday.

Vučić will on Friday join the Serbian delegation led by the president and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi.

Nikolić and Putin will discuss cooperation between Serbia and Russia, including bilateral, political, economic and military-technical cooperation.

“We expect a declaration on strategic partnership, which will become a basic document for development of our friendly cooperation, to be signed during meetings in Sochi,” Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandar Chepurin has said.

Vučić participate in an international conference on European security in Moscow today and met with Greek Defense Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and State Secretary in the Slovenian Defense Ministry Zoran Klemenčič.

Defense ministers of European countries, representatives of the EU member states, representatives of all NATO countries, except for Ireland, OSCE representatives, military experts and U.S. secretary of state’s envoy are taking part in the conference dubbed Military and Political Aspects of European Security.