Nikolic: Serbia is militarily neutral and will remain so

Serbia is a militarily neutral country and will not join any military alliance, but is open to cooperation with all as it needs to safeguard its own interests and effectively oppose all security challenges of today, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said during a meeting with Nikolai Bordyuzha, secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Belgrade Tuesday.

President Nikolic expressed satisfaction about the establishment of firm cooperation between Serbia and the CSTO, stressing that it could greatly contribute to further development of Serbia’s defense industry.

“It is in Serbia’s interest to develop good relations with the CSTO, as well as with NATO, but without undermining its military neutrality,” the Serbian president’s press office cited Nikolic as saying.

Thanking Nikolic for inviting him to visit Serbia, Bordyuzha said that he was now able to better understand the challenges that Serbia was facing and it was clear where the CSTO could offer help.

The CSTO respects Serbia’s decision to remain militarily neutral and will never try to impose anything contrary to that upon Serbia, said Bordyuzha.

Source: Tanjug