BELGRADE - Deputy Commander of Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Lieutenant General Christian Juneau met with a number of Serbian officials in Belgrade over the last two days, confirming that NATO-Serbia partnership is growing stronger. At the meetings in Belgrade, Juneau reiterated the position of the Alliance that it respects Serbia’s decision to remain militarily neutral, as well as that the level of cooperation is very high and mutually beneficial.
"NATO fully respects Serbia’s position of military neutrality. However, this does not prevent us from cooperating through partnership programmes and activities, of which there are hundreds. We also maintain close relations with some other countries that are not members – with Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Sweden, Finland. We are focused on strengthening the partnership we have with Serbia. We are very happy to see the enthusiasm this country is showing in its partnership with NATO," said Lieutenant General Christian Juneau, Deputy Commander of JFC Naples.
Major General Petar Cvetković, Deputy Chief of the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff, and Lieutenant General Christian Juneau Deputy Commander of the JFC Naples.
Photo by Goran Stanković, MC Odbrana
During the visit, Juneau first met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, who said that it is very important for Belgrade for KFOR’s mandate to be achieved in its full extent, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. Lieutenant General Juneau said that KFOR’s primary objective and tasks will not change, these being a secure environment and freedom of movement for all communities in Kosovo, in line with the clear mandate of the Mission. He also said that Serbia wants to promote all forms of cooperation with NATO.
The Deputy Commander of JFC Naples met separately with the State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Mr. Aleksandar Zivkovic, and the Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, MG Petar Cvetkovic. The topics of the conversations included NATO-Serbia cooperation, KFOR-Serbian Armed Forces cooperation and the situation in Kosovo.
During his stay in Serbia, JFC Naples Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Juneau also visited the NATO Military Liaison Office in Belgrade.