Serbia, Cyprus sign SOFA agreement

NICOSIA - Serbia and Cyprus signed on Wednesday in Nicosia a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that will contribute further to development of bilateral defence cooperation.

Serbian Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, who was on an official visit to Cyprus at the invitation of his counterpart Vasilis Palmas, highlighted the significance of constructive discussions about defence cooperation between the two friendly and brotherly countries, as well as about security risks and current developments in the region and worldwide.

"The Republic of Serbia attaches great importance to strengthening good neighbourly relations with the Republic of Cyprus, relations founded on longstanding friendship, historical closeness, and mutual respect between the two nations. We are grateful to the state leadership and the people of the Republic of Cyprus for their principled and consistent stance against recognising the independence of the so-called Kosovo and for their strong support in preserving Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We particularly appreciate the fact that the Republic of Cyprus has, for many years, resisted considerable pressure to change its stance and turn its back on its principles and its friends," an MoD statement quoted Gasic as saying after a tete-a-tete meeting with Palmas.

Gasic thanked Cyprus for "supporting Serbia’s EU integration process, for its participation in the Partner 2025 Defence Exhibition, as well as for confirming its participation in EXPO 2027 Belgrade, an event of exceptional importance for the Republic of Serbia," the statement said.

"Minister Gasic emphasised that Serbia respects Cyprus’s territorial integrity, both on land and at sea, and supports efforts to resolve the situation on the island peacefully, through dialogue.

He emphasised that members of the Ministry of Defence, the Serbian Armed Forces, and the Ministry of the Interior serving in the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus make a valuable contribution to safeguarding peace and carrying out the mission’s mandate through their professionalism."

Gasic highlighted the significance of the signing of the SOFA agreement.

"Today’s signing of the SOFA agreement is of great importance for both our countries, as it facilitates future cooperation between our two militaries and reaffirms the strong mutual trust and respect between the institutions of Serbia and Cyprus. In the coming period, we will focus on further developing defence cooperation, primarily by strengthening military-to-military and military-economic collaboration, with the ultimate aim of building the capacities and capabilities of our armed forces," Gasic said.

"He also noted that frequent high-level meetings, the strong relationship between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, and the ongoing cooperation between members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the National Guard of Cyprus all help to further strengthen bilateral ties and promote stability and security in the region," the statement said.

Palmas said the meeting highlighted the close cooperation between the two countries and that historical bonds between the two nations were being strengthened further through firm friendship, mutual understanding and a shared view of the challenges facing the two countries.

"We explored possible ways of expanding our cooperation, with particular focus on training and weapons programmes. Over the years, Cyprus and Serbia have built a strong relationship based on trust, shared principles, and a common understanding of the threats to regional security. Our relationship reached a new milestone today with the signing of the Status of Forces Agreement, which further strengthens the institutional framework of our cooperation and simplifies the implementation of joint activities in the fields of defence and security. We also discussed the security situation in Cyprus, the Middle East, Serbia, and the Western Balkans," Palmas said, adding that Cyprus remained firmly committed to resolving issues peacefully and in full accordance with international law.

He underlined Cyprus’s firm stance against recognising the unilaterally declared independence of the so-called Kosovo, and its readiness to support any initiative that strengthens stability and promotes constructive dialogue in the region," the ministry said.

Ahead of Cyprus's taking over of the Council of the EU presidency, Palmas noted that his country would "continue to fully support the strengthening of institutional dialogue between the European Union and Serbia" and "support decisions that will help Serbia advance on its European path."