"NATO and Serbia are close and long-term partners, our partnership is based on political dialogue and practical cooperation, fully respecting Serbia's declared policy of military neutrality."

APA reports that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this in an interview with the "Courier" publication of Serbia.

The Secretary General said that the political dialogue between NATO and Serbia takes place on different platforms and levels.

"Our practical cooperation covers several areas and is tailored to the specific needs and interests of Serbia.

For example, we have worked together to be more prepared for emergencies such as floods and forest fires. We are helping Serbia to reform its security forces and institutions. NATO is sending Serbian soldiers to peacekeeping missions. In addition, we have invested millions of euros to help Serbia destroy hundreds of tons of obsolete ammunition," Stoltenberg said.

The Secretary General also emphasized the long-term cooperation between Serbia and NATO in the scientific field.

"We value the close partnership with Serbia. We can build strong relations with Serbia without membership, just as we have with partners like Austria and Switzerland. Just as we respect the decisions of other countries to join NATO, we also fully respect their decisions not to join NATO. we respect," Jens Stoltenberg emphasized.