Cooperation with the Ohio National Guard boosts overall relations between Serbia and the USA

08. Sep 2022.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selaković received Commander of the Ohio National Guard, Major General John Harris today.

Congratulating General Harris on receiving one of Serbia's highest state awards, the Order of the Serbian Flag 2nd Class, Minister Selaković expressed his satisfaction with the long-term successful cooperation through the State Partnership Program with the Ohio National Guard, which also boosted the overall relations between Serbia and the USA.

According to him, the implementation of the planned joint engagement of members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the US armed forces within the Multinational Force and Observers mission in Sinai will give a special boost to the military cooperation between Serbia and the USA.

Selaković said that, along with a series of military-military cooperation activities, Serbia was ready to further strengthen the civil-military and civil-civil components of the partnership with Ohio.

The Minister thanked his interlocutor for the involvement of members of the Ohio National Guard in the Humanitarian Assistance projects, within which a number of elementary schools and kindergartens throughout Serbia have been completely renovated so far. 

Selaković informed General Harris about the situation in Kosovo and Metohija and problems of the Serbian people in the province, stressing that Belgrade remained firmly committed to peace and stability in the region, to dialogue with Priština and the search for compromise and sustainable solutions, and that, on the other hand, Serbia was witnessing unilateral moves by Priština that destabilised the situation.

The interlocutors emphasised the importance of the KFOR mission for security in Kosovo and Metohija and for guaranteeing peace and stability on the ground.

Selaković and Harris discussed a number of regional topics, and the Minister emphasised the importance of the Open Balkan initiative for the further economic development and political stability of the region.