Munsch: Strong Serbia-NATO relations possible even without membership

In an interview with the Beta news agency Munsch said that NATO calls on Russia to play a constructive role in the Western Balkans, adding that it is, unfortunately, doing the very opposite.

Munsch, who will be attending Tuesday the handover ceremony of the Head of the NATO Military Liaison Office in Belgrade, declined to comment Serbia’s attitude toward Moscow, that is, its refusal to impose sanctions on Russia, and welcomed Serbia’s vote against Russia in the United Nations.

At the level of coordination of military relations between NATO and Serbia, I think that the war in Ukraine has no negative consequences on our ability to communicate and cooperate, said Munsch.

We welcome our close partnership with Serbia, said Munsch, adding that NATO can have strong relations with its partners, such as those with Austria and Switzerland, without them becoming members. He said NATO fully respects their decision not to join the alliance, just as it respects the decisions of others to join it.

The Admiral said NATO believes that the long-term partnership with Serbia, based on political dialogue and practical cooperation, contributes to strengthening the mutually beneficial relationship between the two sides and stability across the region.

Admiral Munsch said the NATO Military Liaison Office in Belgrade is dedicatedly working on the promotion and expansion of NATO’s partnership with Serbia, adding that its outgoing chief, Italian Brigadier General Antonello Messenio Zanitti, maintained daily contact with civilian and military partners in Serbia.

The work of the NATO Military Liaison Office has been of vital importance for improving relations between NATO and Serbia and for the further growth of their partnership, said Admiral Munsch, adding that the long-term partnership between the two sides must be viewed in the light of the results that have been achieved.