White House: US-Serbia ties progressing through partnership

White House: US-Serbia ties progressing through partnership

"This year marks the tenth anniversary of Serbia joining NATO’s Partnership for Peace program. The US has been a firm and consistent supporter of Serbia’s efforts to strengthen its relationship with NATO. We value, in particular, Serbia’s commitment to multilateral efforts aimed at defeating ISIL and combatting international terrorism."

"The US deeply appreciates and continues to support Serbia’s contributions to global peacekeeping efforts, and in August 2016 we delivered 19 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs/Humvees) to Serbia to support Serbian units participating in UN operations across the globe."

The US Foreign Military Financing program has provided more than 8.6 million dollars in security assistance to Serbia for defense modernization and training since 2011, the press release said, adding that the US and Serbia had "partnered for more than nine years through our International Military Education and Training program."

"In July, Serbia helped the US advance a key foreign policy and humanitarian objective by agreeing to resettle two former detainees from the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities," the press release said.

"America has long been committed to economic and democratic development in Serbia and the wider Balkan region," the press release said, adding that, from 2001 to 2015, the US invested more than 728 million dollars to "stimulate economic growth, strengthen the justice system, and promote good governance in Serbia."