A Step Closer to NATO
A Step Closer to NATO

Summary/Abstract: On June 13-15, 2011 Belgrade hosted the Stra¬tegic Military Partner Conference organized by NATO Allied Command Transformation. That was the biggest military conference at global level in 2011. In Serbia it reopened the debate on its relationship with North Atlantic Treaty Organization and, in a way, tested the public opinion for potential membership of NATO. Serbia officially calls itself a neutral country ac¬cording to a parliamentary resolution of 2007 (dealing with Kosovo). Though membership of NATO allegedly is not on the agenda, Serbia’s dynamic relations with the Alliances, includ¬ing this conference, indicate that an internal agreement /on membership/ has been reached. Unavoidably, the membership of Partnership for Peace will be followed by an application for NATO membership – in foreseeable future. However, Russia’s overt opposition hampers the application for NATO membership. For Russia’s ambitions and its opposition to NATO’s east¬ward enlargement Serbia is the only strong¬hold in the region. Despite strong anti-NATO emotions ever since the 1999 intervention – the emotions fueled by the conservative war lobby, “Serb hatred for NATO”1 was not demonstrated in some wor¬risome form during the conference. Only two protests one insipid march against NATO were staged on the occasion. “Protests and dissatis¬faction melted away soon,” commented Gen. Aleksandar Dimitrijevic, retired intelligence bigwig.2 The great majority of citizens interpreted the presence of NATO high officials as clear sign that the country was heading towards the Alliance.

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