Vucevic meets with Ohio National Guard commander

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy PM and Defence Minister Milos Vucevic on Friday received Ohio National Guard Commander Maj-Gen John Harris, who is on an official visit to Serbia, to discuss further advancement of cooperation.

Vucevic noted that the cooperation between Serbia and the US state of Ohio as part of a state partnership programme was one of the mechanisms leading the way in development and advancement of Serbia-US relations, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

He said the two countries were undoubtedly aspiring to boost their bilateral ties with a clear intent to deepen defence cooperation without going beyond the framework of Serbia's military neutrality.

Vucevic said the cooperation with the Ohio National Guard raised the level of training of Serbian Armed Forces personnel, boosted operational capabilities and enabled experience-sharing when it comes to preparations for participation in multinational operations and assistance to local residents in crisis situations.

Vucevic informed Harris of current issues regarding the political and security situation in the region, focusing on Serbia's unchanged position on the Kosovo-Metohija issue and emphasising that Serbia was doing everything to ensure the Belgrade-Pristina talks came to the best possible conclusion with a lasting and sustainable solution that would bring stability and prosperity to the entire region.

Harris said he was pleased with his meetings with top officials of Serbia, its Defence Ministry and the Serbian Armed Forces.

He said the cooperation with the Serbian Armed Forces had been very successful to date, and expressed a commitment to work on advancing it further and on raising the operational capabilities of the two armies.

The meeting was also attended by US Ambassador to Serbia Christopher Hill.