Serbian and Slovak defense ministers meet: Gasic grateful for support for Serbia's EU integration

Photo: mod.gov.rs

Minister of Defense Bratislav Gasic met on Monday with Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Robert Kalinak.

The meeting took place at the Banjica 2 Barracks in Belgrade.

After the sounding of national anthems a welcoming ceremony was held with participation of the Serbian Army's guard of honor, followed by the discussions between the two delegations.

Political and security situation in the region and around the world, as well as opportunities for strengthening defense cooperation between Serbia and Slovakia were on the agenda, according to the Serbian Ministry of Defense.

Gasic said that maintaining regular and intensive high-level political dialogue between the two countries further contributes to developing overall bilateral cooperation. The minister expressed his gratitude to Slovakia for remaining firm in its stance not to recognize unilaterally declared independence of so-called Kosovo.

According to him, regional stability is of strategic importance for Serbia. He stressed our commitment to peaceful resolution of all issues with Pristina through dialogue, with the aim of securing a better life for all Kosovo and Metohija residents, while protecting our sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and strictly adhering to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.

Speaking about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, Minister Gasic said that a series of unilateral moves by the provisional institutions of self-government in Pristina, followed by an increase in the number of ethnically motivated attacks on the Serb population, caused great concern and hindered the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. He also thanked Slovakia for its strong support for Serbia's EU integration.

Gasic also said that the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Army are determined to strengthen defense cooperation, particularly in the field of military education, as well as to intensify military and improve military technical cooperation.

According to him, there are many possibilities for the two countries to improve overall bilateral military technical and military-economic cooperation to the mutual interest of both sides.

Minister Kalinak said he was satisfied with the meeting and that Serbia's and Slovakia's commitment to further strengthening their armed forces offeres a platform for intensifying cooperation in different areas of mutual interest.

Kalinak agreed that investing in the development of both countries’ defense capabilities opens up objective possibilities for strengthening cooperation and carrying out joint development projects.

He said that Slovakia remains firm in its stance regarding the preservation of Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

(Telegraf.rs/Ministry of Defense)