Defense Min Dendias, Serbian counterpart in Belgrade agree to expand defense cooperation

Bilateral relations and cooperation in the defense sector in particular were reviewed during the meetings National Defense Minister Nikos Dendias held with President of the Serbian Republic Aleksandar Vučić and Serbian Minister of Defense Bratislav Gašić on Tuesday.

After Dendias was received by the Serbian president, the latter said he had underlined to the Greek minister "the importance of the long-term friendship and strategic partner relationship between Serbia an Greece, and the constant cooperation that aims at maintaining stability and peace in the region."

After the Greek defense minister met with his counterpart Gasic, they gave a joint press conference in which Dendias said they discussed ways to expand military cooperation between the two countries at all levels and they agreed to hold more frequent joint exercises of the Armed Forces.

Dendias called Greek-Serbian relations "of strategic importance", noting the importance of preserving peace and security in the region. He also reiterated Greece's stance on the Kosovo issue, which he said "remains unchanged and consistent". He also expressed the need for continuation of dialog under the auspices of the European Union and the avoidance of unilateral actions threatening it. Greece supports the European integration of Western Balkan countries, he added, underlining that Serbia has made great strides in this direction.

In Belgrade, the visiting minister paid a visit to the Military Technical Institute (VTI), where a presentation was held of weapons systems developed by the Institute that are manufactured in Serbia, an impressive innovation that led Dendias to propose collaboration with the Center of Defense Innovation (ELKAK) in Greece.

Serbian Defense Minister Gasic thanked the Greek minister for Greece's stance on the Kosovo issue and for its support in Serbia's process of EU integration. The cooperation of the two cuountries, extended into the defense sector, is a logical continuation of excellent relations between Greece and Serbia, Gasic said. The Serbian minister also presented Dendias with a bronze statuette of a Serbian soldier of World War I, explaining, "He is one of thousands of Serbian soldiers that found refuge in 1916 on your island, Corfu."

Dendias' visit to Belgrade concluded with a dinner hosted by his Serbian counterpart at the latter's residence in Belgrade.