A delegation of the Sub-Committee on Future Security and Defence Capabilities of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly was today welcomed by the chairperson of the European Integrations Committee, Ksenija Milivojevic, the chairman of the Defence and Security Committee, Milorad Mircic, and member of the Committee on Kosovo and Metohia, Vladimir Milentijevic.
Talking with the visitors, Ms Milivojevic listed the most important activities facing Serbia. She underlined that Serbia was poised to start negotiations on signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU, as well as talks on the status of Kosovo and Metohia.
The head of the visiting delegation, chairman of the Sub-Committee on Future Security and Defence Capabilities, Vahit Erdem, expressed satisfaction at the start of negotiations between Serbia and the European Union, and stressed the importance of NATO and EU membership for all Balkan countries.
Answering questions posed by the visitors, Ms Milivojevic said that possible disintegration of Serbia and Montenegro after the proposed referendum on independence in Montenegro would certainly slow the negotiations down, as it would result in a change in the entity with which the EU is negotiating.
Addressing the delegation, Mr Mircic stressed the importance of co-operation with countries in the region on issues such as security, crime suppression and terrorism, as well as that Serbia’s geographic position means that it has to rely on assistance from the international community. Mr Mircic said that the fight against terrorism, a global evil, required readiness and equipment, but also that stability in the region was out of the question as long as terrorist centres in the Balkans remain.