Ivica Dacic
Serbian National Assembly Speaker Ivica Dacic said on Nov. 15 that "Serbia's principled position is to implement a policy of military neutrality, that is a legal obligation but also a reflection of the mood of the vast majority of citizens," adding that membership in the Partnership for Peace, which the state joined 15 years ago, was "the optimal framework for cooperation" with NATO.
"We believe that this position best reflects our view of solving international security problems. But it also reflects the deep feelings of our people in relation to the bombing of our country by NATO 22 years ago," Dacic said in the Serbian parliament.
Speaking at the opening of the 101st Rose-Roth Seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, titled Euro-Atlantic Integration, Partnership for Peace and the Way Forward on Remaining Challenges in the Western Balkans, Dacic said that Serbia respected the fact that NATO "deeply appreciates this choice and does not see it as an obstacle to intensive cooperation of mutual interest."
On the subject of security problems and challenges, Dacic pointed out that "for Serbia, Kosovo and Metohija is the number one issue and the subject of utmost attention." He further said that Serbia was determined to "solve the Kosovo issue solely by political and diplomatic means because it knows full well that it is the only way to a compromise and further to a lasting regulation of relations between Serbs and Albanians.
To get full access to all content of interest see our
Subscription offer
Or
Register for free
And read up to 5 articles each month.
Already have an account? Please Log in.