Republic of Moldova and Serbia Sign Defense Cooperation Agreement

Belgrad, December 5, 2013 — Ministers of Defense Vitalie Marinuta and Nebojsa Rodic signed on December 4, in Belgrad, the Defense Cooperation Agreement between Republic of Moldova and Serbia.

According to the two officials, the document will allow to create a legal framework to establish cooperation relations between the two military institutions of Moldova and Serbia in the military area.

During the bilateral talks,VitalieMarinuta and Nebojca Rodic, pointed out the interest of both institutions to establish, in the near future, cooperation relations in the most important areas such as: defense and security policy, military science and technical equipment, military education and training, as well as military medicine and economy.

According to Nebojsa Rodic, the Serbian army is interested to learn the experience of the Moldovan colleagues on the implementation of modernization programs of the military structure, in compliance with international standards. This fact insures an efficient interoperability with the partners within different international exercises or missions. As a European country, we have to implement Euro-Atlantic or Western standards, because without them we will not be able reform the army efficiently and ensure a good cooperation with partners. And the Moldovan servicemembers’ experience in this regard is very welcome and useful“, the Serbian Minister of Defense stated.

Vitalie Marinuta said that for the National Army of the Republic of Moldova, which currently undergoes a wide process of reform and modernization, the experience of other partners states, including Serbia, is very precious, because it gives the possibility to take over the latest practices in military construction, establish an efficient national security system, able to ensure the independence and the integrity of our country.

“I am confident that, after signing this Agreement, the experts of our Defense Ministries will begin very soon the dialogue on developing a coloperation plan for the next year , that will allow us to initiate pilot projects in such key areas as: military education and training ,defense and security politicy”, the Moldovan Defense Minister noted.

In Belgrad, Vitalie Marinuta will meet with Dusan Bajatovic, the Chairperson of the Defense and Internal Affairs Committee of the Parliament of the Republic of Serbia, Snezana Jankovic, State secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other officials.

The Moldovan delegation will visit the University of Defense of Serbia, the Peacekeeping Training Center, to familiarize with the training and activity program of these institutions, and the State Enterprise "Yugoimport-SDPR" specialized in military equipments.

So far, Republic of Moldova has signed defense cooperated agreements with 22 states of the world, including USA, Romania, Russia, China, Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, Turkey, France, Poland and others.