Russian minister assured Serbia won't join NATO

BELGRADE Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has told Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that Serbia's firm stance is to remain militarily neutral. Serbia will not join NATO, but the country will also stay out of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which is under the umbrella of Moscow. Russian minister assured Serbia won't join NATO his is because Serbia's goal is to be a militarily neutral country, Vucic reportedly said. The Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti is reporting, quoting unofficial sources, that this was one of the key messages that Vucic relayed to the visiting high ranking Russian official, whom he met in Belgrade on Wednesday. Shoigu, described as enjoying great trust of President Vladimir Putin, besides promoting cooperation in the military field, was also interested in Serbia's intentions with respect to NATO. Vucic told the Russian minister said that the strategic orientation of Belgrade will not change, "because it was bound to this by the proclaimed military neutrality." But Shoigu cited the example of Greece, where most of the population is against NATO yet this country joined the bloc. According to the article, Serbia's first deputy premier "categorically responded": "Be assured that the political leadership of Serbia will uphold its Constitution and the parliamentary declaration on military neutrality. This stand of mine does not depend on whether I am presenting it in Brussels, Washington, or Moscow. " According to the newspaper, the opening of this topic "briefly made waves in the open conversation," so Ambassador Aleksandr Chepurin "reminded his minister that it was precisely Vucic who personally pushed through the key agreements with Moscow." The meeting, however, "ended in a cordial atmosphere," writes the newspaper. This episode "behind the scenes" was, according to Vecernje Novosti, "just an addition to the official protocol during which Shoigu and Serbian counterpart Nebojsa Rodic signed an agreement in the field of defense." After a full decade and a half, this document defines the relationship of the armed forces of the two countries "on a completely new basis." Although it is an umbrella agreement based on which all other military deals will be reached, it is now clear that the first results will be cooperation in the field of aviation, air defense and ground forces. An indication of stronger partnerships are joint exercises, but also the announced participation of armored units of the Serbian Army in a tank competition next year in Russia. The plan is to build stronger ties between the two countries' armies, writes the daily. "The document means a partnership relationship without oscillations. Serbia wants a modern army," Nebojsa Rodic was quoted as saying. Otherwise, the talks focused on investments in the Serbian economy, but also about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. Shoigu stressed that Russia would continue to support Serbia's government policy and the country's territorial integrity. On Wednesday, President Tomislav Nikolic presented Sergei Shoigu with the Order of the Serbian Flag of the First Degree, for his special merits in the development of international relations and friendship between the two countries. (Tanjug) Vecernje novosti

Russian minister assured Serbia won't join NATO

his is because Serbia's goal is to be a militarily neutral country, Vučić reportedly said.

The Belgrade-based daily Večernje Novosti is reporting, quoting unofficial sources, that this was one of the key messages that Vučić relayed to the visiting high ranking Russian official, whom he met in Belgrade on Wednesday.

Shoigu, described as enjoying great trust of President Vladimir Putin, besides promoting cooperation in the military field, was also interested in Serbia's intentions with respect to NATO.

Vučić told the Russian minister said that the strategic orientation of Belgrade will not change, "because it was bound to this by the proclaimed military neutrality." But Shoigu cited the example of Greece, where most of the population is against NATO yet this country joined the bloc. According to the article, Serbia's first deputy premier "categorically responded":

"Be assured that the political leadership of Serbia will uphold its Constitution and the parliamentary declaration on military neutrality. This stand of mine does not depend on whether I am presenting it in Brussels, Washington, or Moscow. "

According to the newspaper, the opening of this topic "briefly made waves in the open conversation," so Ambassador Aleksandr Chepurin "reminded his minister that it was precisely Vučić who personally pushed through the key agreements with Moscow." The meeting, however, "ended in a cordial atmosphere," writes the newspaper.

This episode "behind the scenes" was, according to Večernje Novosti, "just an addition to the official protocol during which Shoigu and Serbian counterpart Nebojša Rodić signed an agreement in the field of defense." After a full decade and a half, this document defines the relationship of the armed forces of the two countries "on a completely new basis."

Although it is an umbrella agreement based on which all other military deals will be reached, it is now clear that the first results will be cooperation in the field of aviation, air defense and ground forces. An indication of stronger partnerships are joint exercises, but also the announced participation of armored units of the Serbian Army in a tank competition next year in Russia. The plan is to build stronger ties between the two countries' armies, writes the daily.

"The document means a partnership relationship without oscillations. Serbia wants a modern army," Nebojša Rodić was quoted as saying.

Otherwise, the talks focused on investments in the Serbian economy, but also about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. Shoigu stressed that Russia would continue to support Serbia's government policy and the country's territorial integrity.

On Wednesday, President Tomislav Nikolić presented Sergei Shoigu with the Order of the Serbian Flag of the First Degree, for his special merits in the development of international relations and friendship between the two countries.