Feature of the Month: November 2006
Bilateral Military Cooperation – Serbia and the U.S. move into the future
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"Serbia and the United States have enjoyed good cooperation. And I look forward to the deepening of our defense relationship and indeed the deepening of our friendship." Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the signing of the SOFA with President Tadic in Washington.
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Our Growing Security Relationship and the Road Ahead
The United States and Serbia share an excellent bilateral security relationship – one that we hope will continue to improve. In 2006, we signed three bilateral agreements that helped to set the stage for closer cooperation. In 2007, we hope that the people of Serbia will choose a democratic government that will continue to work with us to bring Serbia closer to Europe and to Euro-Atlantic integration. The current government has asked for membership in NATO's Partnership for Peace, and the U.S. and the NATO alliance are eager to welcome Serbia once full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia has been achieved. In fact, this government has already taken laudable steps to cooperate more closely with NATO, including moving forward on plans to open a NATO Military Liaison Office in Belgrade and implementation of a "Ground Lines of Communication" (GLOC) agreement that will facilitate transit of NATO forces through Serbia to ensure security for all the people of Kosovo.
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Assistant Defense Minister Snezana Samardzic-Markovic, Defense Minister Stankovic, Mrs. Hallie Polt and Ambassador Polt (in a Serbian army jacket)
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Military Agreements
Serbia and the U.S. signed three significant bilateral military agreements in 2006: the Acquisition and Cross Servicing Agreement (ACSA), the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and an agreement on non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). These agreements help outline how our militaries can train and work more closely together as we face the important global challenges such as the Global War on Terror, and as we continue to fight for common values and a common vision toward full integration in the Euro-Atlantic Community.
Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement
On November 8, U.S. European Command Deputy Commander General Ward and Serbian Minister of Defense Stankovic signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA). The ACSA will allow Serbia and the U.S. to exchange supplies and services between military forces, enhancing the ability to support exercises, peace keeping operations, and humanitarian support missions. The ACSA will also make it easier in the future for the U.S. to deliver humanitarian aid in instances of catastrophic flooding or other natural disasters or emergencies. Speaking at the signing ceremony at Topcider, General Ward said, "The U.S. European Command is very excited for the degree of progress that we see occurring with the reform of the Serbian defense forces, and we look forward to continuing our cooperation and partnership as those reform efforts proceed…. I look forward to the continuing role that Serbia will play in helping to bring stability and security to this region, and further to the role that Serbia will play as a partner in the greater community of nations bringing stability and peace throughout the world."
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General Ward and Minister Stankovic sign the ACSA |
For more information on the signing, visit: General Ward, Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command, Visits Serbia
Status of Forces Agreement
On September 7, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Serbian President Tadic signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that will permit regular military exchanges and exercises between the U.S. and Serbia. The SOFA also opens the door to a new partnership, the State Partnership Program (SPP), between the Serbian military and the Ohio State National Guard. During President Tadic's trip to the United States in September, he met with Ohio Governor Bob Taft and U.S. Senator George Voinovich to announce this new partnership. Sen. Voinovic said, “I believe that this partnership begins a new chapter in the relationship between the United States of America and Serbia.” In the words of General Blum, "Serbia is key to the future of democratic freedoms and principles in the Balkan region."
Republic of Serbia President Boris Tadic, left, holds a Minutemen statue presented to him by LTG H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, during a dinner for Tadic at Blum’s home at Fort McNair in Washington. Tadic endorsed Serbia’s participation in the National Guard’s State Partnership Program with Ohio during his early September visit. (Photo by Master Sgt. Paul Mouilleseaux, National Guard Bureau) |
Agreement on Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
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Ambassador Polt and Minister Stankovic Sign the WMD Agreement
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On April 5, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro Michael C. Polt and Minister of Defense Stankovic signed a bilateral agreement to cooperate to stop the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).
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