Stoltenberg, Vucic discuss possibility of joint NATO-Serbia exercises

 


NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic

Nov 21, 2023. Posted by  Balkan Periscope - Hellas

 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that he had discussed the possibility of holding joint military exercises with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

"We discussed the possibility of resuming joint military exercises," he said at a press conference during his visit to Serbia.

Stoltenberg recalled that NATO and Serbia had previously held joint military exercises. "We would welcome the possibility of resuming these kind of exercises in the future," he added. According to the NATO chief, such exercises would not undermine Belgrade's neutrality.

Stoltenberg did not specify when exactly the NATO-Serbia exercises are planned.

In turn, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the country's government will consider the possibility and make a decision on the matter.

"I, as the supreme commander of the military, will submit a request to the Serbian government so that the decision to resume joint exercises with NATO, as well as with our other partners, which we have held before, will be considered in the near future," Vucic said.

"It is important for us to cooperate with NATO and KFOR (a NATO-led international peacekeeping force in Kosovo - TASS) in the hope of somehow ensuring the security of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija," the Serbian leader pointed out. "We’re doing the right thing by cooperating with NATO, our interaction is at a good level," he pointed out.

"The Serbian armed forces have always performed their duties professionally, have not overstepped their authority and have maintained correct relations with NATO and KFOR. Serbia is a militarily neutral country and will remain so," Vucic emphasized.

Tass

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