MPs adopt national security, defense strategies

The Serbian parliament adopted on Monday in Belgrade the country's national and defense strategies, and amendments to Laws on Serbian Army and Defense. The National Security Strategy evaluates that the illegal unilateral proclamation of independence of Kosovo and Metohija represents the biggest threat to Serbia's security. MPs adopt national security, defense strategies The document points out that Serbia is committed to respecting international law, the strengthening of the role of the UN, EU and OSCE and providing of mechanisms that will preserve security worldwide. It also underlines that Serbia's strategic priorities are the acceleration of the process of EU accession and admission, as well as the improvement of relations with Russia, the United States and the countries in the region. The National Security Strategy is the most important strategic document that defines the basis of political security in the protection of the country's national interests. Given that national security in Serbia is closely linked to the security of the South-East European region and the continent as a whole, Serbia will continue to enhance its relations with the EU member countries, as well as with the members and partners of NATO, the strategy specifies. “By joining NATO's Partnership for Peace program, Serbia proves its long-standing commitment to offering its contribution to joint democratic values and to the strengthening of regional and global security, the document points out. Serbia is fully convinced that an active all-around cooperation of all West Balkan countries with the member states of NATO and the Partnership for Peace program is the path that will lead to lasting stability and progress of this region, it is underlined. The starting point of this document is sovereignty and territorial integrity, economic prosperity, social stability, development of democracy and the rule of law, the respect of human and minority rights, European foreign policy orientation and the boosting of cooperation with the most influential bodies of the international community and the countries in the region. MPs also adopted the Defense Strategy of the Republic of Serbia, which reads that the vital defense interests of the country are to preserve its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as the protect the safety of the citizens. This includes “development of trust, promotion of security and stability in the region and cooperation and partnership with international security organizations and institutions of democratic states.” The foreign policy orientation and reform processes in Serbia have a positive impact on the promotion of the good-neighborly and cooperation policy, accession in European and other international security structures, as well as strengthening of its international status, the document read. “European and Euro-Atlantic orientation of the region countries and aspiration towards common civilizational values contribute to the strengthening of mutual trust and cooperation, which reduces the possibility of new risks and threats to the security of Serbia,” it is also said in the Strategy. Serbia is oriented towards developing and strengthening its own defense capacities and capabilities and “acting together with other states and contributing to the strengthening of national, regional and global security through integration into European and other international security and defense structures.” An aggression against Serbia “is very unlikely, but it may come as a result of armed conflicts of global or regional nature caused, primarily, by opposing interests of big powers or states in the region.” It is also stated that “an armed conflict based on separatist aspirations aimed at change internationally recognized borders by force poses a particular threat.” “The illegal unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo is the biggest threat to the national interests of Serbia. A solution that is not based on the Constitution of Serbia, international law, United Nations Charter and the OSCE Helsinki Final Act may contribute to the crisis and potential escalation of violence in that area developing into a source of long-term instability of the region,” it was underscored in the document. The Serbian parliament also adopted amendments to the Law on Serbian Army (VS) and Defense Law that will allow comprehensive reforms of the defense system. The Defense Law regulates the defense system of Serbia as an independent state and lays down the jurisdictions of the state organs and the VS in these assignments, and the adopted amendments envisage that the Serbian government should outline defense plans and the instructions on methodology for drafting such plans, based on the proposal of the resource ministry. The executives also decide on the establishing and abolishment of institutions of military education and military research work and their integration into the education and science-research system of Serbia. The law proscribes rights and responsibilities of state organs, autonomous provinces, local self-governments, citizens, economic societies and other persons involved in the country's defense, and it specifies that civil defense is part of the unified defense system. The amendments also define the scope of civil protection competence whose basic function is protection, recovering from and removing of the consequences of natural hazards, technical-technological accidents and other greater accidents that may jeopardize citizens, material and cultural goods and environment.

MPs adopt national security, defense strategies

The document points out that Serbia is committed to respecting international law, the strengthening of the role of the UN, EU and OSCE and providing of mechanisms that will preserve security worldwide.

It also underlines that Serbia's strategic priorities are the acceleration of the process of EU accession and admission, as well as the improvement of relations with Russia, the United States and the countries in the region.

The National Security Strategy is the most important strategic document that defines the basis of political security in the protection of the country's national interests.

Given that national security in Serbia is closely linked to the security of the South-East European region and the continent as a whole, Serbia will continue to enhance its relations with the EU member countries, as well as with the members and partners of NATO, the strategy specifies.

“By joining NATO's Partnership for Peace program, Serbia proves its long-standing commitment to offering its contribution to joint democratic values and to the strengthening of regional and global security, the document points out.

Serbia is fully convinced that an active all-around cooperation of all West Balkan countries with the member states of NATO and the Partnership for Peace program is the path that will lead to lasting stability and progress of this region, it is underlined.

The starting point of this document is sovereignty and territorial integrity, economic prosperity, social stability, development of democracy and the rule of law, the respect of human and minority rights, European foreign policy orientation and the boosting of cooperation with the most influential bodies of the international community and the countries in the region.

MPs also adopted the Defense Strategy of the Republic of Serbia, which reads that the vital defense interests of the country are to preserve its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, as well as the protect the safety of the citizens.

This includes “development of trust, promotion of security and stability in the region and cooperation and partnership with international security organizations and institutions of democratic states.”

The foreign policy orientation and reform processes in Serbia have a positive impact on the promotion of the good-neighborly and cooperation policy, accession in European and other international security structures, as well as strengthening of its international status, the document read.

“European and Euro-Atlantic orientation of the region countries and aspiration towards common civilizational values contribute to the strengthening of mutual trust and cooperation, which reduces the possibility of new risks and threats to the security of Serbia,” it is also said in the Strategy.

Serbia is oriented towards developing and strengthening its own defense capacities and capabilities and “acting together with other states and contributing to the strengthening of national, regional and global security through integration into European and other international security and defense structures.”

An aggression against Serbia “is very unlikely, but it may come as a result of armed conflicts of global or regional nature caused, primarily, by opposing interests of big powers or states in the region.”

It is also stated that “an armed conflict based on separatist aspirations aimed at change internationally recognized borders by force poses a particular threat.”

“The illegal unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo is the biggest threat to the national interests of Serbia. A solution that is not based on the Constitution of Serbia, international law, United Nations Charter and the OSCE Helsinki Final Act may contribute to the crisis and potential escalation of violence in that area developing into a source of long-term instability of the region,” it was underscored in the document.

The Serbian parliament also adopted amendments to the Law on Serbian Army (VS) and Defense Law that will allow comprehensive reforms of the defense system.

The Defense Law regulates the defense system of Serbia as an independent state and lays down the jurisdictions of the state organs and the VS in these assignments, and the adopted amendments envisage that the Serbian government should outline defense plans and the instructions on methodology for drafting such plans, based on the proposal of the resource ministry.

The executives also decide on the establishing and abolishment of institutions of military education and military research work and their integration into the education and science-research system of Serbia.

The law proscribes rights and responsibilities of state organs, autonomous provinces, local self-governments, citizens, economic societies and other persons involved in the country's defense, and it specifies that civil defense is part of the unified defense system.

The amendments also define the scope of civil protection competence whose basic function is protection, recovering from and removing of the consequences of natural hazards, technical-technological accidents and other greater accidents that may jeopardize citizens, material and cultural goods and environment.