Czechs take over as NATO liaison

The Czech Republic today took over from Italy as the “contact point” between Serbia and NATO for the next two years. At the ceremony at the Italian embassy in Belgrade, Italian NATO ambassador Stefano Stefanini said that significant progress was made over the last two years in cooperation between Serbia and the western military alliance. Czechs take over as NATO liaison Stefanini said it is up to Serbia to decide “to what extent it wants relations with NATO to develop”, but added that NATO wants Serbia as “a partner and friend”. Serbian Defense Ministry State Secretary Zoran Jeftic said that he expects successful cooperation with the Czech Republic. Asked about NATO’s support for the Kosovo Security Forces, Jeftic said that this decision is “a big mistake,” and that "it makes sense" that there are consequences in terms of cooperation between Serbia and NATO. Italian Ambassador to Serbia Alessandro Merola said that Italy did everything it could over the last two years to help "deepen" relations between Serbia and NATO. Czech Ambassador to Belgrade Hana Hubackova stated during the ceremony that the liaison position between Serbia and NATO is a very important task for her country. Before Italy, Norway and Great Britain all served as "contact points". Serbia joined NATO's Partnership for Peace outreach program in December 2006. Hubackova (c), Merola (r) seen in Belgrade on Monday (Tanjug)

Czechs take over as NATO liaison

Stefanini said it is up to Serbia to decide “to what extent it wants relations with NATO to develop”, but added that NATO wants Serbia as “a partner and friend”.

Serbian Defense Ministry State Secretary Zoran Jeftić said that he expects successful cooperation with the Czech Republic.

Asked about NATO’s support for the Kosovo Security Forces, Jeftić said that this decision is “a big mistake,” and that "it makes sense" that there are consequences in terms of cooperation between Serbia and NATO.

Italian Ambassador to Serbia Alessandro Merola said that Italy did everything it could over the last two years to help "deepen" relations between Serbia and NATO.

Czech Ambassador to Belgrade Hana Hubačkova stated during the ceremony that the liaison position between Serbia and NATO is a very important task for her country.

Before Italy, Norway and Great Britain all served as "contact points". Serbia joined NATO's Partnership for Peace outreach program in December 2006.