NATO

BELGRADE - Serbia is pursuing a policy of military neutrality and its authorities are not considering NATO membership, but that is no obstacle to a partnership with the alliance, Serbian FM Ivica Dacic said Thursday.

BELGRADE - NATO membership will be a central issue in Montenegro's general election on Sunday, with the vote marking the latest episode in a power struggle between Russia and the West in the Balkans, EurActiv.com reports.

Serbia is a strong, reliable, and stable partner, said James Appathurai, Deputy assistant to secretary-general of NATO for political affairs and security policy

He talked to B92 about Serbia’s membership in NATO, as well as the Russian influence in our country.

Turkey has fired hundreds of its senior military - representatives at NATO both in Europe and the USA after the unsuccessful coup attempt on July 15, showed documents to which Reuters has secured access.

This means that the subsequent purge has affected some of the most  well-prepared cadres in the army.

Turkey has fired hundreds of senior military staff serving at NATO in Europe and the United States following the failed July 15 coup, documents seen by Reuters show.

In a classified military dispatch, 149 military envoys posted to NATO centers in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Britain were ordered on Sept. 27 to return to Turkey within three days. 

Deputy Defense Minister Dimitris Vitsas described Monday the presence of Turkish Navy submarines in Greek territorial waters last month as an "unacceptable tactic."

The 31st contingent of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria returned to the country on October 7 after successful participation in NATO's mission in Afghanistan Resolute Support.

The contingent was greeted at Sofia Airport by the Chief of Staff of Allied Command Commodore Dimitar Yordanov.

​A German lawmaker, who was among the group of parliamentarians visiting German troops at the Turkish air base İncirlik after a ban was recently lifted, has said the visit paved the way for the German Parliament to vote to extend the deployment of nearly 240 German troops stationed at the base. 

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has expressed his "deep concern" to a top NATO commander over recent comments by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that appeared to question a historic treaty that set the borders of modern Turkey, Kathimerini understands.

NATO officials have refrained from commenting on a statement by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who on Sunday said the country might end its military presence in Afghanistan.

"Bulgaria is a valuable ally with important contribution to common security," the Bulgarian National Radio quotes NATO's headquarters as saying.