NATO Office Chief: Serbia As Partner Becoming More Important

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NATO office chief in Belgrade Cesare Marinelli has said that relations between Serbia and NATO "are better than the ordinary person thinks" and that Belgrade "is becoming an increasingly important partner."

Marinelli told the European Western Balkans' website on Dec. 19 that NATO wanted to build a "unique relationship" with Serbia in which Serbia was free to chose its own priorities for cooperating with the Alliance.

"We have a strong partnership and we continue to act in unison in areas in which Serbia and NATO see value. Currently, in accordance with its needs and ambitions, as well as foreign policy,  Serbia can chose from 1,600 different activities that it can perform with NATO," Marinelli said.

Marinelli also said that NATO "fully respects Serbia's policy of military neutrality."

"Serbia has the sovereign right to chose its own security arrangements suited to the needs of its citizens. Good relations with NATO and good relations with Russia or any other country or multi-national organization are not mutually conflicting. We shape our partnerships according to the needs of every country. We do not impose anything on our partners and, as you know NATO closely cooperates with many militarily neutral countries such as Finland, Austria and Sweden, among others," Marinelli said.