Foreign Ministry's State Secretary, Ambassador Roksanda Nincic received General Philip Breedlove, Commander of NATO Allied Command Operations and of US Armed Force European Command, on 5 February 2016.

General Breedlove is on an official visit to the Republic of Serbia at the invitation by Chief of Serbian Army Staff Ljubisa Dikovic.

State Secretary Nincic underlined that the Republic of Serbia was militarily neutral but that it also recognized the scope for further strengthening the cooperation within the available Partnership for Peace mechanisms, to the mutual benefit.

The two interlocutors expressed their satisfaction at enhancing the political dialogue and cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and NATO, resulting also in the successful visit by the NATO Secretary General to Serbia in November 2015.

State Secretary Nincic welcomed the NATO decision on full relaxation of the Air Safety Zone along the administrative boundary line with Kosovo and Metohija. She also emphasized the importance of the KFOR unflagging presence in Kosovo and Metohija, being the guarantee of security and implementation of the Brussels Agreement.

General Breedlove highlighted NATO's respect for Serbia's military neutrality, adding that, under the existing framework, there were opportunities for further promotion of cooperation. He emphasized, in particular, the leading role of Serbia and its contribution to regional stability.

The two sides also discussed the challenges posed by the migrant crisis both in the region and in Europe.