NATO - Topic: NATO’s relations with Serbia

NATO’s relations with Serbia

Bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and the President of the Republic of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolic

Serbia has been a member of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) since December 2006. Democratic, institutional, and defence reforms are a key focus of cooperation. While not an aspirant for membership of the Alliance, the country is currently in discussions with NATO on deepening cooperation through the development of an Individual Partnership Action Plan.

In its PfP Presentation Document submitted to NATO in September 2007, Serbia indicated its intention to become an active participant in the Partnership for Peace. As Allied leaders reiterated at their summit meeting in Chicago in May 2012, NATO stands ready to further develop an ambitious and substantive relationship with Serbia, making full use of its PfP membership, while at the same time respecting Serbia’s policy of military neutrality.

In a speech on 29 June 2011, NATO’s Secretary General stated that “Serbia’s future lies in peaceful cooperation with its neighbours and with the European Union and NATO. […] We have made good progress these past few years in developing a sound basis for partnership and cooperation. It is now up to Serbia to decide if it wants to move forwards in its cooperation with NATO, and how fast.”

Kosovo is of course a key subject in NATO's dialogue with Serbia. The Alliance intervened militarily in early 1999 to bring an end to the violence in Kosovo, subsequently deploying the NATO-led Kosovo peacekeeping force (KFOR) to provide a safe and secure environment and facilitate reconstruction. KFOR remains crucial to guaranteeing security in Kosovo and will remain in Kosovo on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 to ensure a safe and secure environment, including freedom of movement for all people.

At the Chicago Summit, the Allies reiterated their support for Serbia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and encouraged Belgrade to continue building a strong partnership with NATO. Allied leaders also called upon Serbia to support further efforts towards the consolidation of peace and stability in Kosovo. They urged Belgrade and Pristina to take full advantage of the opportunities offered to promote peace, security, and stability in the region, in particular by the European Union-facilitated dialogue.

Framework for cooperation

Serbia submitted its first Individual Partnership Programme (IPP) to NATO in early 2009. Areas of cooperation and specific events in which Serbia wishes to participate are detailed in this document, which is jointly agreed with NATO. In April 2011, the North Atlantic Council approved Serbia’s request to undertake an Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO. The IPAP is a jointly agreed framework in which a partner nation lays out its reform goals and the areas where NATO can provide assistance to achieve those goals. It helps to organise NATO-Serbia cooperation, ensuring that NATO and NATO Allies can provide support to assist Serbia in achieving its reform goals. The IPAP offers an important step forward in the NATO-Serbia relationship, as it will allow NATO and Serbia to deepen both their political consultation and practical cooperation.

The Serbian armed forces have also cooperated with KFOR for many years through the Joint Implementation Council (JIC), based on the 1999 Military Technical Agreement between KFOR and the Serbian Armed Forces (Kumanovo Agreement).

Key areas of cooperation

Security cooperation

In July 2005, Serbia signed a transit agreement with NATO to allow Allied forces serving as part of KFOR to pass through Serbian territory. This agreement between NATO and Serbia mirrors similar arrangements between NATO and other countries across and beyond Europe. It also provided for the establishment of the NATO Military Liaison Office in Belgrade. Established in December 2006, this office liaises with the Serbian military authorities on the practical aspects of the implementation of the transit agreement, as well as supporting Serbian defence reforms and participation in PfP activities.

Defence and security sector reform

Defence and security sector reforms are core elements of cooperation. An important vehicle for this cooperation has been the Serbia-NATO Defence Reform Group (DRG). The group was jointly established in February 2006 to provide advice and assistance to the Serbian authorities on reform and modernization of Serbia’s armed forces, and to build a modern, affordable, and democratically-controlled defence structure. Serbia also joined the PfP Planning and Review Process (PARP) in 2007. The reforms undertaken within the DRG and the PARP are supported through the selection of training and exercises within Serbia’s Individual Partnership Programme (IPP).

The Alliance as a whole and individual Allies have considerable expertise upon which Serbia can draw in this area. An important priority will be working together to further promote transparent democratic control over the armed forces.

NATO’s Military Liaison Office in Belgrade was opened in December 2006, to support the implementation of the NATO / Serbia transit agreement. It also supports work with Serbia on defence reform.

The Military Liaison Office also facilitates Serbian participation in activities in the framework of the Partnership for Peace Programme and provides assistance to NATO’s public diplomacy activities in the region.

The Allies have supported a number of NATO/PfP Trust Fund projects in Serbia. These include a project for the safe destruction of landmines and ammunition, executed by the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA). The project, which ended in June 2007, was led by Canada and Austria.

A Norwegian-led Trust Fund project to develop alternative livelihoods for former members of the Serbian armed forces will finish in the middle of 2011. The implementing agent for this project is the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). This project, carried out over 5 years and worth 9.6 million Euros, has helped almost 6,000 discharged defence personnel in Serbia start small businesses.

Science and environment

Under the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, Serbia has received grant awards for a number of cooperative projects. Projects include seismic risk-hazard reduction studies, the future of regional cooperation, and counter-terrorism workshops.

Serbia and NATO aim to increase scientific cooperation. Key areas for development could be further regional security issues and environmental initiatives.

Public information

Serbia and NATO aim to improve public access to information on the benefits of cooperation with NATO and the key elements of NATO-Serbia cooperation. A broad and effective communications strategy is an important aspect of PfP cooperation. The Military Liaison Office in Belgrade will play a role in this process.

In every Partner country an embassy of one of the NATO member states serves as a contact point and operates as a channel for disseminating information about the role and policies of the Alliance. The current NATO Contact Point Embassy in Serbia is the embassy of the Czech Republic.

Evolution of relations

Relations with Serbia have steadily improved since the Kosovo crisis in the late 1990s. In 2001, the Allies worked with the new democratic government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in stemming the violence in southern Serbia.

In 2003, Belgrade formally applied to join the Partnership for Peace (PfP). A transit agreement for KFOR forces was signed in July 2005. In February 2006, Serbia and NATO agreed to establish the NATO-Serbia Defence Reform Group (DRG). The NATO Allies invited Serbia to join the PfP at the November 2006 Riga Summit. The country formally joined the Partnership in December of that same year and the Allies opened a new Military Liaison Office in Belgrade. Serbia joined the Planning and Review Process in 2007. In April 2011, the North Atlantic Council approved Serbia’s request to undertake an Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO.

Milestones

1999	A 78-day NATO air campaign is triggered by violence in Kosovo.
	The NATO-led Kosovo peacekeeping force (KFOR) is deployed to maintain security and support reconstruction efforts. KFOR and Serbian Armed Forces sign Military Technical Agreement (Kumanovo Agreement)
2001	NATO and the newly elected government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia cooperate in crisis-management operations in southern Serbia
2003	Belgrade formally applies for PfP membership.
	The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is replaced by a looser state union of Serbia and Montenegro.
	NATO completes a PfP trust fund project to destroy 28,000 surplus small arms and light weapons in Serbia
2005	Serbia hosts a PfP trust fund workshop ‘Together reducing unsafe surplus tools of war’ in Belgrade.
	Serbia and NATO sign a transit agreement for KFOR forces.
	NATO launches a PfP trust fund project to develop alternative livelihoods for former Serbian armed forces personnel as the service is downsized
2006	Serbia joins the Partnership for Peace.
	NATO opens a Military Liaison Office in Belgrade.
2007	Serbia joins the PfP Planning and Review Process (PARP).
	NATO completes a PfP trust fund project that safely removed 1.4 million anti-personnel landmines from Serbian territory.
	In September, Serbia submits its PfP Presentation Document to NATO.
2009	Serbia agrees its first Individual Partnership Programme with NATO.
2010	NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen meets the President of the Republic of Serbia, Boris Tadic while in New York.
2011	In April, the North Atlantic Council approves Serbia’s request to undertake an Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO
	In June, Serbia hosts the Allied Command Transformation Strategic Military Partners Conference, one of the largest NATO partnership events each year.