NATO chief: We mourn the innocent victims of the bombing of Yugoslavia (PHOTO)

NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said today after meeting with Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia is an exporter of stability in the region. Vucic said that Serbia is militarily neutral, and that he wants to continue cooperation with NATO, because without that cooperation there is no peace and stability in the region and peace and stability in the region is a precondition for further economic growth and prosperity of Serbia.

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Stoltenberg said that NATO respects the military neutrality of our country and expressed regret for innocent victims of the NATO campaign, from the bombing of Yugoslavia.

General secretary of the Alliance started the joined press conference with Vucic in Brussels with saying Hello on Serbian language and said that Serbia is in the heart of Balkans, which is in the heart of Europe, so it significantly contributes in different ways on regional stability.

Foto: NATO

He marked that he had great meeting with PM Vucic. He said that NATO respects the decision of our country about military neutrality.

He also reminded that the purpose and the goal of air actions of NATO in 1999 was protection of civilians, and they succeeded in that.

- The loss of lives of innocent people was a tragedy and because of that I deeply regret - said the head of NATO.

Foto: NATO

Telling Vucic that he is welcome in the NATO headquarters, he added that Serbian PM had a great meeting with the representatives of the Atlantic Council and it was the first meeting of the PM with them.

- We had the great meeting with the Council, which proves that we are working on strengthening our cooperation between NATO and Serbia. I am proud on the friendship with you, i am grateful that you are here. We talked on different questions including our common safety challenges - said Stoltenberg.

Foto: NATO

Without NATO there is no stability in the region, and no advancement of Serbia. 

PM Aleksandar Vucic said that Serbia is military neutral, but he wishes to continue the cooperation with NATO, because without cooperation there is no peace and no stability in the region, and peace and stability in the region is a prerequisite for further economic growth of Serbia.

Vucic, before the meeting with general secretary of NATO in the seat of Alliance in Brussels thanked Stoltenberg because he respects decisions of Serbia and the national assembly.

Foto: NATO

Also, he thanked the general secretary of NATO on the statement that he is sorry for the innocent victims of the bombing in 1999, because, it is a great deal for "Serbia, the people and the country".

He said that public in Serbia must know that we are surrounded with NATO countries and countries that would like to join NATO, so if we want people and stability, the growth of economy and better life standard, good relationships must be built with the people from NATO.

- Serbia is military neutral, respects the decisions of the parliament, but because of rational reasons and the views in the future, not returning into past, Serbia wants to develop relationship with NATO - said Vucic.

Foto: NATO

He said he talked about key questions with Stoltenberg, fight against terrorism, migrant crisis, participation of Serbia in peace operations, and he asked Stoltenberg for NATO help in cleaning of old mines, especially on Kopaonik.

Vucic said that, after the relaxation of the air zone of land security, there were words about the lower airspace over Kosovo and Metohija and the experts will soon meet, and he believes that there will be positive solutions in the upcoming period.

Foto: NATO

PM said that he is grateful on the marks that Serbia reflects as a stabilizer to the entire region, saying that it is our contrition to advance in every other area.

There is no pressure on Serbia to join NATO

PM Vucic said in Brussels after the meeting in NATO, that here was no pressure on Serbia to join NATO. 

Vucic for the press said that Alliance respects the military neutrality of our country, but also that NATO is one of the first partners of our country when it comes to preserving peace, stability and economic progress.

Prime minister said during his talks with North Atlantic council that Serbia is on the European path, it has good relations with Russian federation and wants to continue making good progress in cooperation with the Alliance.

Foto: NATO

- I am grateful to Stoltenberg and all the others who respect the decision of Serbia to be militarily neutral. We discussed how to preserve peace and stability, because the citizens of Serbia should know that we are surrounded by NATO countries and they are one of the first partners we should talk to if we wish to have peace. full stability and if we want to develop our economy on free way - pointed out the PM of Serbia after that talk in NATO in Brussels.

Foto: NATO

- We agreed to make special civil practices in 2018 for emergency situations - announced the Serbian prime minister.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Tanjug)