SAF CHOD General Miletic meets with Admiral Di Paola

Serbian Army Chief of General Miloje Miletic met with Chairman of NATO Military Committee Admiral Gianpaolo Di Paola Guard in the House of Guards in Topcider.

At a joint news conference after the meeting, General Miletic said that the strategic military conference was a good opportunity to strengthen cooperation in defense with a number of countries.

- During today's conversation with Admiral Di Paolo we together assessed that the conference was very successful and that we expect it would yield positive results in the further development of the capacities of partner countries. Also, we agreed on another aspect, and it was said yesterday by Supreme Commander of Allied Transformation Command, General Stefan Abriel, that NATO fully respects our position of military neutrality - General Miletic said, adding Serbia was open for cooperation with NATO, however the level and mode of cooperation are a matter of our decision.

According to him, we want to use the experience of NATO and their commands, but also to build common capabilities in the areas of doctrine, military organization, training of commands and officers, to develop leadership and cooperation in military economy.

Addressing a crowd of journalists, Admiral Di Paola has also confirmed that the Belgrade conference was successful , stressing its importance as it had brought together a number of senior military officials from around the world.

- This is a confirmation that NATO and its partners recognize the importance of your country - said Admiral Di Paola, adding that the Alliance considers Serbia, which is militarily neutral country, as a very important partner and looks forward to intensifying cooperation, while leaving room for each partner country to determine the mode and intensity of cooperation .

According to him, it is clear that the Alliance has a vested interest in the stability and development of the Balkans and that there is optimism regarding the future of the region of integration, but each country has the right to vote his way.

Responding to reporters' questions, General Miletic and Admiral Di Paola said that another topic of discussion was modification and implementation of the Military Technical Agreement, estimating that the issue was very important for our relations with NATO, and the relaxation of relations.


General Miletic added hat he had agreed with Admiral Di Paola that there was a shared interest to discuss this, as the best way to solve all existing problems and that the higher the political structures of NATO should respond in an adequate response.

Regarding the same topic, Admiral Di Paola said that the Military Technical Agreement had been modified over the years when the conditions for this were created and that talks on this issue were in progress. - It remains to be seen the outcome of this process, said Di Paolo. What is important, he said, on both sides, there is a will to address this issue.

After the meeting with General Miletic, Admiral Di Paola gave a lecture who attend school for the most important military duties in the School of National Defense, who spoke about contemporary security challenges in the world.