Posted on 09/07/2006 2:23:25 PM PDT by kronos77
Washington -- Serbia can have a prosperous, democratic future and be a "force for stability," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Serbian President Boris Tadic as they signed a status-of-forces agreement between the two nations September 7 in Washington.
Tadic is visiting the United States to hold private meetings with various U.S. officials about the future status of the Kosovo province, currently administered by the United Nation. The latest round of U.N.-sponsored Kosovo talks began September 7 in Vienna, Austria. (See related article.)
Meeting with reporters in Washington, Rice said the United States and Serbia have a shared vision of Serbia’s future that is “one of prosperity and democracy and a force for stability in the Balkans and Europe as a whole.”
Rice added that both nations “look forward to that continuing transformation that allows Serbia and the Balkans to find complete peace and stability.” She said she also looks forward “to the deepening of our defense relationship” following the signing of the status-of-forces agreement.
“After signing this document,” Tadic told reporters, “Serbia's armed forces are going to create cooperation with the National Guard from Ohio.” Military cooperation will foster closer ties between the United States and Serbia that could lead to increased U.S. economic investment, he said.
... The U.S. European Command (EUCOM) uses the National Guard State Partnership Program to link U.S. states and territories with designated partner countries. The U.S. Defense Department is an enormous global organization, and state-level National Guard structures often are comparable to the military forces of European nations. The partnership program reinforces the development of stable nonpolitical militaries that are subordinate to civilian leadership.
(Excerpt) Read more at usinfo.state.gov ...
Lets make-up?
U.S., Serbia Sign Military Cooperation Agreement
http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusintl/reuters09-07-110352.asp?reg=europe&vts=9720061739
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