Vucevic meets with Hokanson

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy PM and Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said at a meeting with US National Guard Bureau Chief Gen Daniel R Hokanson on Wednesday that Serbia-US bilateral relations were on an upward trajectory and that both sides had expressed intent to continue and deepen defence cooperation.

Vucevic said Serbia highly appreciated the cooperation to date in mutual training, as well as US donations to Serbia's defence system.

He pointed out the diversity of fields of mutual interest in which cooperation is underway and noted joint participation in multinational peace operations as a newly-established field of cooperation, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Vucevic said Serbia continued to pursue a balanced defence policy and was constantly working on advancement and further development of the quality of defence ties with all states and international organisations in line with its long-term strategic commitment to retain the status of a militarily-neutral state.

He noted that Serbia appreciated US support to the process of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and was striving to ensure normal life to the Serb community in Kosovo-Metohija by peaceful means.

Speaking about the safety of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija, Vucevic noted that Serbia saw Kfor as the only legitimate armed formation in Kosovo-Metohija in line with UN SC Resolution 1244.

Vucevic said Serbia was firmly committed to remain a promoter of dialogue and a factor of stability in the region.

Hokanson said he was pleased with the meeting with MoD officials and conveyed an expectation that bilateral defence cooperation would be strengthened further in the coming period.