The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is watching with concern the statements and intentions of certain regional representatives regarding the signing and expansion of bilateral military cooperation agreements, warning that such actions could give rise to new tensions in the Balkans, reported the Serbian official Politika.

“Serbia recalls that the entire Balkan Peninsula remains a sensitive post-conflict zone where the preservation of peace and stability is of vital importance both for the states of the region and for Europe as a whole,” the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that any insufficiently transparent action that could be interpreted as creating military blocs or alliances aimed against third countries only deepens divisions and undermines trust. “The lack of transparency and the absence of normal consultations around such agreements create an atmosphere of mistrust that contradicts the European values of dialogue, predictability and mutual respect,” the position added.

Belgrade also drew attention to the fact that some of the countries concluding such arrangements are already NATO members, which “raises questions about the true motives and political symbolism” of these initiatives. “We also do not understand the reasons for excluding certain countries from such forms of cooperation,” the ministry added.

As the “right path for strengthening trust and cooperation in the region,” Serbia proposes investments in mechanisms for joint training, civil protection and coordinated emergency response — such as to floods, fires and earthquakes — which would bring concrete benefits to all citizens.

“Serbia remains firmly committed to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and expects all partners to act responsibly in that spirit, respecting the legitimate interests of all parties,” the statement said. |BGNES