Kirby: New possibilities for cooperation with NATO

NOVI SAD - Serbia is getting new opportunities for continuation and improvement of cooperation with NATO within an individual action plan that should be signed in March, U.S. Ambassador in Serbia Michael Kirby said on Wednesday.

During a lecture on the new stage of the Partnership for Peace programme which Kirby delivered before the students of the Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management of University of Business Academy in Novi Sad, Kirby recalled that the agreement on the individual action plan was reached in January.

The plan does not say that peacekeeping missions worldwide are concerned with the military alone and it instead notes that there are segments that cover politics, economy and other sectors, Kirby told reporters.

He noted that the plan will entail involvement of primarily Serbian Defence Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Interior Affairs, especially the sectors in charge of response to emergency situations such as natural disasters.

Kirby noted that over the past few years, Serbia has become considerably more active in peacekeeping missions and added that although the missions are not in direct connection with NATO, they are guided by the same standards.

Serbia maintains good and serious army and it is logical that it wishes to cooperate with its peers, improve and enhance its military and this is the reason why NATO is a good option as a potential partner, Kirby said.

Photo Tanjug,S.Ilic,ilustration