Slovak defense minister reiterates firm Kosovo issue stance

First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic on Friday spoke with Slovak Defense Minister Peter Gajdos.

According to the Serbian government, Dacic and Gajdos "assessed that bilateral relations of the two countries are traditionally good and friendly."

The officials "expressed mutual satisfaction with the intense and continuous political dialogue at all levels, and expressed interest in further deepening all aspects of bilateral, especially military cooperation."

Dacic expressed his gratitude to Slovakia for continuing support to Serbia's European integration, and expressed the hope that it will continue in the future.

He also emphasized that our country especially appreciates Slovakia's principled support for territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia and finding a compromise solution for the issue of Kosovo and Metohija.

Gajdos conveyed the readiness of the Slovak Republic to continue supporting cooperation with Serbia in all fields, especially in the field of defense.

He reiterated that Slovakia remains committed to its principled stance not to recognize Kosovo's unilaterally declared independence, and that his country will continue to provide full support to Serbia's European integrations in the future.

Dacic expressed his confidence that this year's marking of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations dating back to the time of the former Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the former Czechoslovakia will provide an additional impetus to deepening our bilateral relations at all levels.