Vučić: I expect to meet with Orbán soon; Hungary has been and will always be a reliable partner for Serbia

The meeting started at 10 a.m. in the Palace of Serbia, and the Minister of Defense in technical mandate Bratilsav Gašić and the Chief of the General Staff Milan Mojsilović are also present.

The bilateral military cooperation plan between the ministries of defense of Serbia and Hungary for 2025 - a document on the operationalization of strategic cooperation in the field of defense between the two countries was signed by the Minister of Defense of Serbia, Bratislav Gašić, and the Minister of Defense of Hungary, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. The signing was also attended by the Chief of the General Staff of the Serbian Army, General Milan Mojsilović.

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After the meeting, Vučić will attend the signing of a document in the field of defense, after which statements to the media are scheduled.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Hungarian Defense Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky addressed the public.

Vučić said that Serbia has the most developed and intensive cooperation in the field of defense with Hungary in the region and expressed his belief that the agreement on joint activities will continue in further rapprochement and the creation of a military alliance or military alliance between Serbia and Hungary.

"I am honored that today I have the opportunity to talk to and host Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Minister of Defense of Hungary. Because this is the continuation of our very significant cooperation. The strategic cooperation between Serbia and Hungary in the field of defense is one of the most important aspects of our comprehensive strategic cooperation of all the countries in the region. Serbia, according to the number and importance of joint activities, therefore has the most developed and intensive cooperation in the field of defense with Hungary. The document signed by the two ministers today operationalizes and concretizes the agreement on strategic cooperation in the field of defense reached in 2023. We have agreed on the largest number of activities so far, almost twice as many as in 2023, and what we have agreed with our Hungarian friends is of great importance to us," he said.

He pointed out that we should not lose sight of the fact that thanks to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his government, we had peace with our northern neighbor back in 1999, when they were under great pressure to allow a land invasion from Hungarian territory.

"Thanks to Orbán and his government, we have peace, they didn't allow a ground offensive in 1999. Today, 26 years later, we are in a position to build the closest strategic relations in the field of defense and to think and progress, and we believe that this agreement on joint activities will have its continuation in further rapprochement towards the creation of a military alliance or a military alliance between Serbia and Hungary. Of course, this is what the Hungarian side is wondering about, as well as the Hungarian and Serbian parliaments and everyone else, but our relations are so good, especially considering how it is and what is happening in Europe and the world," said Vučić.

He also reminded that Hungary buys ammunition from us, they are also interested in our vehicles, and we are interested in some Soviet systems, links, BTRs...

"We are interested in many of their systems. Hungary invests a lot of money, has an exceptional army that is being modernized at a high speed. Helicopter exercises are extremely important for us. They have excellent training centers. We show great interest in further cooperation, that is very important for us. I expect to meet Viktor Orbán soon. Thank you to Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky for his support. Hungary can always count on the support of Serbia. Friends are known in times of trouble. Hungary has been and will always be reliable partner for Serbia. I believe that everything we do will mean greater security for the citizens of both countries," said Vučić.

Minister of Defense of Hungary Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that with the signed Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan, the cooperation between the two countries has been raised to an even higher level. He said that cooperation so far has been very successful in many areas, including military cooperation.

"At the international level, it is very important that there is cooperation with neighboring countries, such as Serbia, and that the two countries always consult. Serbia is not in the EU, but we have consultations at the highest level. Since 2023, we have expanded our cooperation to include military cooperation. Today we went through the plan for 2025 in detail. Today we went through the entire plan for the current year's cooperation. Expert consultations, military training, mapping and consultations were agreed upon," he said.

Szalay-Bobrovniczky emphasized that Hungary is always on the side of peace and that it is an ally with Serbia in this. He pointed out that Hungary is advocating for the enlargement of the EU, as well as the accession of Serbia.

"During our EU presidency, we emphasized the importance of enlargement and worked with all our resources to contribute to it," he explained.

Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said that, when it comes to military cooperation, Hungary has always insisted on helping Serbia in preserving peace.

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