DM in Newport: Invitation confirms partnership

DM in Newport: Invitation confirms partnership

“The invitation is a confirmation that the Serbian government and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić enjoy the status of a reliable and responsible partner within the EU entry talks and Partnership for Peace program, firmly committed to cooperation with all states and international organizations whose goal is to step up regional cooperation and global security,” Gašić said in a statement to Tanjug.

The summit is bringing together over 60 heads of state and government and relevant international organizations, and this is one of the most significant international political and security events in 2014, he noted.

Gašić underscored that the defense ministry is taking an active part in the Partnership for Peace program and building relations of trust with NATO member states and partner countries, based on cooperation and mutual respect, in an effort to ensure regional development, strengthen good neighborly relations and resolve all contentious situations through dialogue and cooperation.

Participating in activities under this program, members of the Serbian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces (VS) are acquiring new knowledge and skills and are sharing experiences with members of other armed forces, which is beneficial in more than one way, he added.

“Of course, Serbia's engagement in the Partnership for Peace is not inconsistent with the VS' military neutral position and it offers extraordinary opportunities for Serbia to actively cooperate with all NATO member-states and partners and facilitate support for the defense reform process,” said Gašić.

He said that several meetings were held on the sidelines of the meeting with heads of other delegations, where they exchanged opinions on bilateral cooperation between the VS and these countries and prospects for further development in this regard, pointing particularly to a bilateral meeting with the minister and delegation of the Defense Ministry of Romania.

As the Serbian ministry of defense stated, Gašić informed participants of the meeting about Serbia's intent to consider in detail its possible engagement in an interoperability platform in the coming period, in line with its military's capabilities and capacities.

The meeting, in which Gašić took part, was aimed at promoting the 2014-2015 Interoperability Platform.

Gašić is the first Serbian defense minister to take part in such a summit.