17 June 2021 The informative meeting for MPs on NATO PA activities and current global security issues

17 June 2021 The informative meeting for MPs on NATO PA activities and current global security issues

Thursday, 17 June 2021

Informative Meeting for MPs on NATO PA Activities and Current Global Security Issues

Today, the MPs attended an informative meeting organised by the National Assembly delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, in order to get better acquainted with the work of the members of our delegation to the NATO PA, as well as the current topics on the agenda of this international parliamentary organisation and current global security issues.


The Head of the National Assembly delegation to the NATO PA Dragan Sormaz expressed satisfaction with the meeting and stressed the importance of informing the MPs and the public about the results of the recent NATO Summit in Brussels, as well as the results of the 15 years of cooperation between Serbia and NATO through the Partnership for Peace programme.

Sormaz said that the public knows little about Serbia’s rich cooperation with NATO, stating that the aim of this meeting, the first in a series of planned activities of the National Assembly delegation to the NATO PA, is to better inform the MPs and the public about the topic.

National Assembly Deputy Speaker Dr Vladimir Orlic addressed the participants of the meeting, emphasising in the previous 15 years of cooperation through the Partnership for Peace programme, our country had been recognised as a valued, respected and important partner. He said that Serbia pursues a policy of military neutrality, without aspirations for membership in NATO or any other military alliance in the world, aiming to build the position of a responsible and reliable partner, a position of our country respected by NATO and its member states and other partners.

Vladimir Orlic stated that it would be prudent to further improve cooperation, especially in view of the common goal that is preserving peace and stability in the region. The partnership relations are an inseparable part of Serbia’s overall foreign policy and the efforts for the region to be permanently stable, stressed the National Assembly Deputy Speaker.

Orlic also spoke the engagement of the international security forces (KFOR) in Kosovo-Metohija, as the only legal military formation in the province by decision of the UN Security Council. "The members of this mission have a key role in maintaining peace and stability, as well as in protecting Serbs and other non-Albanian communities in Kosovo-Metohija", Orlic stressed.

He added that we expect the Alliance to understand and support our priorities regarding the Kosovo-Metohija issue, which implies full respect for status neutrality - in accordance with the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, guarantees for a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo-Metohija, as well as the continuous presence of a mission able to cope with the challenges of constant provocations and irresponsible actions initiated by Pristina.

At the end of his address, Dr Vladimir Orlic said that the relations between Serbia and NATO are a sensitive issue, burdened by a difficult legacy from the past which we cannot change, but we can jointly build a better future, which can only be achieved by strengthening mutual cooperation and trust, understanding and respecting the vital state interests of the Republic of Serbia and the national interests of our people.

These interests are of paramount importance for Serbia and the country says so openly, to everyone and at every opportunity, and today it does so standing upright - in accordance with the policy personally designed and personally led by the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces, Aleksandar Vucic, followed and implemented by the Serbian Government, and the people in Serbia today give plebiscite support to that policy, just like the Assembly that was elected by the same people, Orlic pointed out.

In his address, the Head of the NATO Military Liaison Office in Serbia Brigadier General Tomaso Vitale said that NATO remains firmly committed to the security and stability of the Western Balkans. He expressed support for the dialogue under the auspices of the European Union and other efforts aimed at normalising relations between Belgrade and Pristina, and noted that NATO remains committed to its continued engagement in Kosovo-Metohija through the KFOR mission.

He went on to say that this year marks the 15th anniversary of Serbia's membership in the Partnership for Peace programme and that the partnership is long-lasting and stable. NATO and Serbia are working in a number of areas, such as: civilian emergency preparedness, reform of national security structures and institutions, training of Serbian personnel for multilateral peacekeeping operations around the world and scientific cooperation, Vitale stressed in his address.



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friday, 29 march
  • 9.00 - the National Assembly Speaker meets with the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Speaker’s Cabinet)

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