NATO office to support defense reforms, implement transits

NATO office to support defense reforms, implement transits

NATO Belgrade military liaison office head, French Brigadier General Yannick Asset, gave an interview to B92, and said that NATO troop transits should not be expected before February.

Asset: I have two tasks: The first is to implement the transit contract, signed by Serbia and NATO in 2005. My second task has two aspects. One is to support the Defense reform group, formed in February this year. Now that Serbia is a Partnership for Peace member, I will also support all the activities related to that program.

B92: When can we expect the first transit of NATO troops through Serbia?

Asset: The process of establishing a NATO office is at the beginning. The opening ceremony had a political and symbolic value, but we need to continue work so that the office can start functioning. My entire team will arrive in Belgrade in mid January, or perhaps by the end of that month, so we will not be involved in the transit issues before the end of January. That means that the first transits will take place after that.

B92: Bearing in mind the history of NATO - Serbia relations, what reaction do you expect from ordinary citizens? Will Serbia be a friendly territory for the NATO troops?

Asset: I see no problem there. There will be close cooperation between myself, KFOR and the Serbian government. Everything will function according to the law and the transit contract. I really can’t see how any problems could arise there. There were already some transits through the territory of Serbia. They at that time crossed your territory according to bilateral contracts between your government and NATO member states. I don’t see why there should be any difference between those convoys and the new ones? Why would there be any problems now, if none occurred back then?

B92: How will you cooperate with the Serbian authorities when it concerns Kosovo, bearing in mind NATO’s role in Kosovo, and announcements that the final Kosovo status decision might be reached soon?

Asset: The status is within the United Nations’ jurisdiction. The transit contract is a good foundation for the cooperation between Serbia and NATO when it comes to Kosovo. It will facilitate NATO’s rapid troop transfer to Kosovo, should that be necessary, in order to protect any community in danger.

B92: The media saw plenty of symbolism in the fact your office is located in the Ministry of Defense, which was bombarded during the 1999 NATO-led campaign.

Asset: There is no symbolism. When we started our talks about opening this office there were several suggestions, either to have it completely outside the Defense Ministry building or to have a section of it here, and another somewhere else. Your ministry and your government have suggested that the office be located here. We have accepted, since that was the most convenient solution, and a good opportunity to work with our Serbian colleagues.