Dacic: Serbia Wants to Contribute to Region’s Stability

Ivica Dacic (Beta/Foreign Ministry)

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on July 22 that by intensively initiating regional topics involving greater investments and enhanced trade Serbia wants to contribute to the region’s stability and its more rapid economic growth.

At the opening of the Eighth Belgrade NATO Week, Dacic said that relations between Serbia and NATO are a delicate issue, burdened by the legacy from the past, i.e. the bombing of the then Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by the most powerful military alliance in the world, without authorization from the U.N. Security Council. He added that this for Serbia was an act of aggression, which resulted in civilian casualties and enormous material damage.

Dacic pointed out that all concerned – Serbia, its neighbors, the most powerful NATO countries and NATO itself – have the responsibility and obligation to work toward making the region stable in the long term, especially in view of the fact that NATO is present in the region and is obliged by the U.N. to preserve peace, security and stability, which pertains to Kosovo and Metohija and fulfilling the mandate from U.N. Resolution 1244.

The foreign minister pointed out that partnership relations with NATO are an inseparable part of Serbia’s foreign policy and efforts to make the region stable in the long term. He added that these relations are clearly defined and resting on partnership cooperation in accordance with Serbia’s policy of military neutrality.

“We expect the Alliance to view with understanding and support our priorities, which particularly pertains to Kosovo and Metohija, because the situation in the province is the main political and security challenge for Serbia. We believe that only a compromise solution, reached through a dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, with support from the international community, can secure lasting peace and security,” Dacic said.