Gasic After First NATO-Serbia Joint Exercise: Dialog with NATO Important

Bratislav Gasic (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic said on May 22 that the ongoing dialog between Serbia and NATO is important, adding that Serbia is committed to its military neutrality and nurturing good relaions "with all international security stakeholders."

In a meeting with NATO deputy general secretary Kevin Hamilton, on the sidelines of a NATO-Serbia multinational tactical exercise, he also said that Serbia is a guarantor and generator of regional security, dedicated to maintaining an "optimum level" of cooperation with NATO under the auspices of the Partnership for Peace program.

According to the press release, the minister said deployment in U.N. and EU international missions is important for Army of Serbia members, like participation in exercises to advance operational and functional capabilities and achieve the standards necessary for taking part in multinational operations.

Gasic said the exercise was "the result of joint work, professionality and the skill of Army of Serbia members and the engaged forces of a number of NATO countries," and that working together to organize and prepare for the exercise was "on a very good level." The first NATO-Army of Serbia joint multinational tactical military exercise took place near Bujanovac on May 22, the Defense Ministry said in a press release, adding that high-level guests attended.

The exercise, organized by Allied Land Command and Joint Force Command Naples, included some 600 members of the Army of Serbia and the armed forces of Italy, Romania and Turkey, along with military planners and observers from the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Romania, the U.S., Serbia, Turkey, France and Montenegro.