Serbia's incumbent prime minister and president-elect Aleksandar Vucic (R) shakes hands with visiting U.S. Senator John McCain in Belgrade, Serbia, on April 10, 2017. Counterterrorism cooperation of Serbia and United States can prove to be of vital importance, U.S. Senator John McCain said at a joint press conference with Serbia's incumbent prime minister and president-elect Aleksandar Vucic on Monday. (Xinhua/Nemanja Cabric)
BELGRADE, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Counterterrorism cooperation of Serbia and United States can prove to be of vital importance, U.S. Senator John McCain said at a joint press conference with Serbia's incumbent prime minister and president-elect Aleksandar Vucic on Monday.
McCain attended a combined exercise training event with police officers from Serbia's special counterterrorism unit and U.S. Green Berets. He expressed appreciation for Serbia's contribution to common security, especially in countering IS.
"Our cooperation and exercises will be very important in time of terrorism. Countering these threats protects both Serbia and United States," McCain said at a press conference.
McCain said the situation in the South East Europe is of vital importance for U.S. national security, adding: "Vucic will play a lead role in bringing the parties together and having peaceful resolution to many outstanding issues."
He congratulated Vucic on behalf of the United States on his recent victory at the April 2 presidential elections, as well as for fast progress, economic reforms and movement in EU integration.
Vucic said he talked with McCain about the need to maintain stability in the region, bilateral relations of two countries as well as Serbia's attitude towards important international issues.
"We are always prepared to invest efforts into maintaining peace and keep best possible relations with countries in the region with that aim, because this has also high economic importance for us," said the Serbian PM.
Vucic reiterated that despite excellent military cooperation with NATO, the United States and Russia, Serbia wishes to maintain its military neutrality.
"We wish to have good traditional relations with Russia although we are strategically on the EU path," he said, adding that he got the assurance from McCain that the United States will support Serbia in its European integration.
