Izvor: N1 televizija, 08.Nov.2018, 15:53 (ažurirano 02.Apr.2020.)
US envoy: Serbia is NATO vital partner, sharing same goals
The US ambassador to Serbia Kyle Scott said on Thursday NATO was committed to peace, common interests and the rule of law, adding Belgrade’s partnership with the Alliance was important, the Beta news agency reported.
He told the NATO Belgrade Week sixth meeting that the Alliance regarded Serbia as its vital partner adding Belgrade and NATO had common strategic goals – the united and free Europe which lives in >> Pročitaj celu vest na sajtu N1 televizija << peace.
“We can work together as partners to achieve those goals,” Scoot said.
He added that NATO’s role in the region was primarily to secure stability and said (NATO-led force in Kosovo) KFOR was creating and ensuring peace and freedom of movement to all communities there.
“KFOR enables conditions for all Kosovo’s citizens to live in peace and stability,” Scott said, adding he was pleased to see that “Serbia and NATO work as partners in the process respecting the country’s military neutrality.”
Serbia’s Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said NATO and Serbia share “responsibility and obligation” to secure the lasting regional stability and that Belgrade expected from the Alliance to understand and support its priorities, particularly concerning Kosovo.
Dacic said that Serbia – NATO relations were burdened with the Alliance’s 1999 bombing of the then Yugoslavia over Kosovo and that the two had a different view of the event, but that was a reality.
The ambassador said Serbia was the only country NATO was engaged in during its history which organised one of the Alliance’s most massive exercise. “Who says the Balkans cannot change?”
NATO Public Diplomacy Department representative (NATO PDD) Robert Pszczel said there still were many difficulties in Serbia – NATO relations which had to be discussed and overcome.
He added that the reason for supporting the NATO Belgrade Week was the fact that the ideas heard during the meeting went further.
“That makes them important in the region and beyond,” he added.
Dacic said the NATO – Serbia cooperation had improved in recent years, adding Belgrade was in favour of further development in relations with the Alliance and the member states, as partners, based on the country’s military neutrality without Serbia's aspiration for the membership, but with its openness for dialogue and cooperation in practice.
Jelena Milic, the director of the Centre for Euro-Atlantic Studies, said Serbia should learn a lesson from the history with NATO.
"Serbia has to understand that all alliances are difficult, though it’s not an easy task,” Milic said, adding any solution to Belgrade - Pristina relations should not be rejected in advance.
"If our society wants to join the European Union it will support solutions from the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue and thus secure a chance for progress,” she added.
