Mojsilovic, UK's Coaker discuss cooperation between Serbian, British armed forces

BELGRADE - Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Gen Milan Mojsilovic met on Tuesday in Belgrade with Lord Vernon Coaker, a senior official of the UK's Ministry of Defence.

"The meeting at the General Staff focused on the global and regional security situation, the modernisation and transformation of the Serbian Armed Forces into a modern, respectable armed force, as well as on opportunities for cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and the British Armed Forces," the Serbian Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

"The two officials highlighted as successful the joint participation of members of the two armed forces in the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), as well as the participation of British soldiers in the Platinum Wolf exercises, which are held annually at Base South near Bujanovac.

General Mojsilovic told Lord Coaker, Minister of State responsible for international relations and defence diplomacy, that the Serbian Armed Forces remain open to cooperation with all partners, provided that Serbia’s military neutrality is respected.

Addressing the situation in the southern Serbian province, the Chief of the General Staff emphasised that the Serbian Armed Forces, as a credible and reliable partner, consistently adhere to the Military Technical Agreement and all other signed agreements, and that, in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, KFOR is recognised as the sole legitimate armed formation in Kosovo-Metohija," it said.

The meeting was also attended by UK Ambassador to Belgrade Edward Ferguson.