Šutanovac: Participation in peace ops

Serbia likely won't NATO, but it intends to strengthen its partnership with this alliance through more intensive participation in international operations. This is according to Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac, interviewed by Jane's Defence Weekly. Sutanovac: Participation in peace ops "It is the objective of Belgrade to do what some European countries have already done - such as Sweden or Austria - to place membership in the European Union above further integration with NATO," Sutanovac said. There are a series of areas in which cooperation between NATO and Serbia can be strengthened, the minister said, and this especially pertains to peacekeeping missions of the United Nations. "That would be very important for Serbia's future," he was quoted. But, Sutanovac admitted, "any attempt at increasing the number of Serbian members in peacekeeping operations abroad could encounter with public opposition in Serbia". "There is also the possibility that Serbia could provide NATO members and partners with access to the Military Medical Academy of Belgrade, as well as to the Center for Training in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense in Krusevac, which has already organized courses for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons," he said.

Šutanovac: Participation in peace ops

"It is the objective of Belgrade to do what some European countries have already done - such as Sweden or Austria - to place membership in the European Union above further integration with NATO," Šutanovac said.

There are a series of areas in which cooperation between NATO and Serbia can be strengthened, the minister said, and this especially pertains to peacekeeping missions of the United Nations.

"That would be very important for Serbia's future," he was quoted.

But, Šutanovac admitted, "any attempt at increasing the number of Serbian members in peacekeeping operations abroad could encounter with public opposition in Serbia".

"There is also the possibility that Serbia could provide NATO members and partners with access to the Military Medical Academy of Belgrade, as well as to the Center for Training in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense in Kruševac, which has already organized courses for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons," he said.