Vucic: I'll send request to government to consider holding joint exercises with NATO

Photo: Tanjug/Sava Radovanovic

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said today that the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO) is the key to normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina. At a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, he called on Belgrade and Pristina to continue the dialogue because, he pointed out, that is the only way to peace.

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"We also discussed the tensions in the north of Kosovo and the importance of the KFOR peacekeeping mission, which has been guaranteeing security for two decades. We will continue to do so impartially and within the mandate. KFOR members have suffered attacks, we saw riots in September, the perpetrators must be brought to justice," Stoltenberg said.

He said that after that, KFOR deployed 2,000 soldiers to Kosovo and Metohija, which is the biggest reinforcement of KFOR in the past decade, and stressed that he supports coordination of between the army and KFOR.

"I am counting on all sides to reduce tensions and refrain from escalating actions. Amassing forces of the Serbian Army near the crossings would not be helpful," he said.

Stoltenberg pointed out that NATO and Serbia cooperate excellently in the Program for Peace and in numerous other areas, such as energy security.

"I look forward to seeing examples of good cooperation when it comes to scientists working with us," he said.

He stressed that he also discussed joint military exercises with Vucic, which had been taking place before, as well as about Ukraine.

"We will always cooperate with NATO, as the supreme commander, I will send a request to the Government of Serbia to consider passing a decision to start holding joint exercises with NATO, that we had before," said Vucic.

Vucic: We will try to have best possible communication with NATO

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said today after his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that in the future we will try to have the best possible communication with NATO, as well as that he informed Stoltenberg that in the last year 13 percent of Serbs left northern Kosovo due to harassment and pressure by the Pristina regime.

"We discussed all important issues for more than an hour and a half, and what Stoltenberg said and what I can confirm is also important for us, cooperation with NATO and KFOR in the hope that we will ensure as much security for the Serb people in Kosovo and Metohija as possible," said Vucic.

And when Stoltenberg says that KFOR ensures peace and security for all communities in Kosovo - there was no need to ensure peace and security for anyone else, except for the Serbs, who were the only ones threatened or attacked, added Vucic.

He pointed out that only the Serbs have been suffering attacks since 2001, especially since Albin Kurti came to power.

"I informed Stoltenberg of the fact that about 13 percent of Serbs left northern Kosovo in the last year alone due to enormous pressure, arrests, harassment and threats carried out by the Pristina regime," said Vucic.

(Telegraf.rs)