Defense chief on Portugal's support

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac stated that Portugal is offering its full support to Serbia on its way toward the EU. Sutanovac, who was on an official visit to Lisbon, also added that he has had "useful talks about Kosovo". Defense chief on Portugal's support The minister told reporters that he received assurances from Portugal's officials that this country will not unilaterally reduce the number of its troops in KFOR, "which is very important for Serbia regarding security in Kosovo and the region". “We were also told by Admiral James Stavridis (NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe) recently that the further scale-down of forces in Kosovo and Metohija will go with consultations with Belgrade. We have received assurances today that Portugal won’t reduce its forces in Kosovo, which means a continued higher security level for all those who live there,” the defense minister said. After meeting with the Portuguese defense and foreign ministers, and parliament speaker, Sutanovac stated that there was a disagreement regarding the future status of Kosovo, but that he had thanked his interlocutors for their country’s participation in KFOR, with Portugal making up "the most numerous single military contingent of one country in the province". Sutanovac added that it was assessed unanimously that Serbia was making a great effort in the process of EU accession, and that Portugal's officials said their country supported Serbia on its road toward the EU. “It was important for us to hear that reforms in the defense system were satisfactory and that they met all the criteria, and that we have Portugal's support for continued reforms,“ he said and added that there was a great perspective for improvement of the cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense. As possible directions in the development of the defense system cooperation between Serbia and Portugal, the Serbian defense minister stated cooperation in the field of military medicine, military education, peace operations, but also in the defense industry sector, "through connecting the two countries' economies". Sutanovac said that both countries had "certain production" in the field of defense industry and that improvement of cooperation could create conditions for joint appearances in the third markets. “We can conclude that that the cooperation in the field of defense is a pillar of the two countries' cooperation,“ Sutanovac said, and added that Serbian Army (VS) Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Miloje Miletic had received an invitation to visit Portugal this year, while Portuguese Defense Minister Augusto Santos Silva would also visit Serbia. Beside meeting his Portuguese counterpart, the Serbian defense minister also held a meeting with Foreign Minister Luis Amado and Portuguese Parliament Speaker Jaime Jose Matos da Gama. Augusto Santos Silva, Dragan Sutanovac in Lisbon (Beta)

Defense chief on Portugal's support

The minister told reporters that he received assurances from Portugal's officials that this country will not unilaterally reduce the number of its troops in KFOR, "which is very important for Serbia regarding security in Kosovo and the region".

“We were also told by Admiral James Stavridis (NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe) recently that the further scale-down of forces in Kosovo and Metohija will go with consultations with Belgrade. We have received assurances today that Portugal won’t reduce its forces in Kosovo, which means a continued higher security level for all those who live there,” the defense minister said.

After meeting with the Portuguese defense and foreign ministers, and parliament speaker, Šutanovac stated that there was a disagreement regarding the future status of Kosovo, but that he had thanked his interlocutors for their country’s participation in KFOR, with Portugal making up "the most numerous single military contingent of one country in the province".

Šutanovac added that it was assessed unanimously that Serbia was making a great effort in the process of EU accession, and that Portugal's officials said their country supported Serbia on its road toward the EU.

“It was important for us to hear that reforms in the defense system were satisfactory and that they met all the criteria, and that we have Portugal's support for continued reforms,“ he said and added that there was a great perspective for improvement of the cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense.

As possible directions in the development of the defense system cooperation between Serbia and Portugal, the Serbian defense minister stated cooperation in the field of military medicine, military education, peace operations, but also in the defense industry sector, "through connecting the two countries' economies".

Šutanovac said that both countries had "certain production" in the field of defense industry and that improvement of cooperation could create conditions for joint appearances in the third markets.

“We can conclude that that the cooperation in the field of defense is a pillar of the two countries' cooperation,“ Šutanovac said, and added that Serbian Army (VS) Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Miloje Miletić had received an invitation to visit Portugal this year, while Portuguese Defense Minister Augusto Santos Silva would also visit Serbia.

Beside meeting his Portuguese counterpart, the Serbian defense minister also held a meeting with Foreign Minister Luis Amado and Portuguese Parliament Speaker Jaime Jose Matos da Gama.