A closing ambassador-level meeting held at NATO Headquarters on 14 December 2018 brought to an end Chairmanship of the informal South East Europe Security Steering Group (SEEGROUP) held this year by the Mission of the Republic of Serbia to NATO.

Head of Mission of the Republic of Serbia to NATO, Ambassador Miomir Udovicki, chaired the meeting, while the keynote speech was given by Acting Assistant Foreign Minister for security policy Ambassador Branimir Filipovic. The event included participation of Ambassadors, Heads of Permanent Missions of NATO Member and Partner States.

Taking into account the current developments in Kosovo and Metohija, i.e., the unilateral decision made by Pristina institutions on 14 December to transform the so-called "Kosovo Security Forces" into a so-called "Kosovo army" coinciding with the date of the concluding SEEGROUP meeting, both Ambassador Udovicki in his opening statement and Ambassador Branimir Filipovic as keynote speaker mainly focused on this topic, stressing that this decision by Pristina was in flagrant violation of UNSC Resolution 1244 threatening peace and stability in the Province, that KFOR was the only legitimate military presence in the Province under the Resolution, and also that other unilateral decisions by Pristina – such as the imposition of discriminatory tariffs on goods originating from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, were an unprecedented attempt at obstructing the dialogue and regional cooperation, a violation of CEFTA Agreement and a further pursuance of the policy of "fait accompli" by Pristina, despite having been warned by both the EU and NATO to refrain from such moves.

Representatives of our country presented to the Heads of NATO Member and Partner States' Permanent Missions, the position of the Republic of Serbia focusing full attention on the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, delivering on the agreements reached, and responding in a measured and responsible way, aiming to prevent further escalation and negative effects of the unilateral decisions made.

Ambassadors Filipovic and Udovicki called on NATO to take seriously all possible consequences of such decisions, conveying their expectation that NATO would, in line with its positions on these matters, use its influence on Pristina to put an end to these unilateral moves, as well as that the KFOR Mission, in performance of its mandate under UNSC Resolution 1244, would ensure full safety of the Serbian population, of their property and cultural and historical heritage in Kosovo and Metohija, which was vital for the survival of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija.