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Serbia interested in developing good relations with post-Soviet military bloc — president

It is also in Serbia’s interests to develop good relations with NATO, and at the same time maintain its military neutrality

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic EPA/IVAN SEKRETAREV/POOL

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic

© EPA/IVAN SEKRETAREV/POOL

BELGRADE, April 5. /TASS/. Serbia is interested in developing good relations with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said on Tuesday at the meeting with CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha.

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"It is in Serbia’s interests to develop good relations with CSTO, as well as with NATO, and at the same time maintain its military neutrality," Nikolic said. "In the military sense, Serbia is a neutral country, and it will not join any military alliances. However, it is open for cooperation with everyone in order to protect its interests and effectively counter all security threats that our time brings," he added.

"President Nikolic expressed satisfaction with the establishment of firm cooperation between Serbia and CSTO, noting that it may make a considerable contribution to developing defense industry in Serbia, including even producing goods for markets of third countries," the press service of the Serbian president said. Nikolic said he "expects that after talks between the CSTO secretary general, Serbian prime minister, defense minister and foreign minister, concrete proposals will be made soon for improving conditions for cooperation between Serbia and CSTO."

"CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha thanked President Nikolic for an invitation to visit Serbia. He said that now he understands much better the threats that Serbia faces and sees where CSTO is able to help it," the presidential press service said. "Mr Bordyuzha proposed to start improving cooperation on information exchange between security services noting that it would be of interest for Serbian security structures. Moreover, CSTO may help Serbia in fighting against drug trafficking, human trafficking, as well as against terrorism and natural disasters," the press service added. "CSTO respects Serbia’s principle to remain militarily neutral and will not in any way try to impose on it the decisions that it does not want to implement," it concluded.

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