***

The Assembly of the Republic of Serbia on December 26, 2007 proclaimed MILITARY NEUTRALITY in relation  to existing military alliances. This decision, according to the text of the declaration, is valid until a REFERENDUM which would bring a definitive decision on the issue. By doing so, Serbia joined a European family of nations – members of the EU or not – which have proclaimed military neutrality. Among the neutral countries are the most western European countries, such as Ireland, the most northern European countries such as Sweden, the most southern European such as Malta, the most eastern Europeab such as Moldova and the most central European such as Austria. The experiences of these countries, the strengthening of the EU defense policy, the Russian proposal on the Agreement on European security, as well as the appearance of new alliances such as the Organization for Collective Security, are proofs of existence of alternatives to NATO.

Reasons for Serbia’s military neutrality:

1. A neutral country is outside of NATO. NATO has bombed Serbia in 1999, with thousands of dead and wounded. Serbia’s infrastructure and economy were destroyed. Serbia served as a test for NATO’s policy of acting outside the Euro-Atlantic zone and for enforcing its global role. It would be illogical for Serbia to become a member of an Alliance which has killed its citizens. Serbia does not want to be part of a “humanitarian interventionism” which it survived in 1999.

2. Neutrality means peace. Instead of following a policy of force and of service to foreign military, political and economic interests, Serbia should propagate the respect of international law and UN system. It should actively promote the principle of equality of states and of respect of their sovereignty, of dialogue and compromise solutions for international conflicts. A policy of neutrality is an excellent basis for a credible promotion of such principles. Neutrality bears in itself peace, just as military alliance bear wars and conflicts.

3. New possibilities for Serbia’s foreign policy. By proclaiming neutrality, Serbia has opened a new possibility in the field of foreign policy which, unfortunatelly, it has not used to date. Neutral countries are using this specific status to reinforce their positions in the international scene: they are hosts to various international conferences, they provide mediation in talks, they provide special UN envoys and mediators. A strong, stable Serbia, as the only neutral country in southeastern Europe, could use a political and economic opportunity of being different in a Euro-Atlantic environment. It should start promoting its neutral role, by basing itself on the several decades long friendship of the majority of the world.

4. Independence in deciding about the questions of defense and security. The policy of neutrality gives great opportunities to the state to adapt to the political and security situation in the world in accordance with its own national interests. It can base its position on its own priorities, and not on the orders of prirority of others states. A policy of neutrality allows Serbia to say „NO” to participation in wars and conflicts which are not its own. Neutrality means no obligations steming from membership in military alliances, in terms of human and material resources. Neutrality give autonomy in decisionmaking about measures undertaken to protect a country and the security of its citizens. Serbia should decide on its own what is necessary for the defense of the country and to build its own defense system, just as it has done for decades back, when it has had one of the best and most respected armies in Europe.