First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic had a meeting today with the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Alexander Zuev.


The talks highlighted the importance of Serbia's contribution, through participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations, to the UN efforts to maintain international peace and security, and the high level of professionalism and integrity continually demonstrated by personnel of the Serbian Armed Forces and Police in UN peace missions worldwide, building upon the tradition of Yugoslavia's participation in such operations, initiated in 1956.

The interlocutors fully agreed on the need to respect UNSC resolution 1244 (1999) and maintain the presence and activity of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), as the guarantor of the status neutrality of the international presence.

UN Assistant Secretary-General Alexander Zuev underlined in particular that UNMIK would remain an important factor in preserving the stability and in the rule of law area in Kosovo and Metohija.

Minister Dacic took the opportunity to underscore the importance attached by the Republic of Serbia to the United Nations, and the country's commitment to the Organization's key areas of activity, while both sides expressed readiness to continue their close cooperation and to deepen it within the UN peacekeeping operations framework.