Serbia hosts military exercises with Russia
- 10 years ago
Under a hail of gunfire, Serbian special forces are on the move.
And watching the ground assault from a safe distance are Russian and Serbian military officials.
The unprecedented joint military drill underscores a delicate balancing act for Serbia -- safeguard relations with its big-power ally in Russia, while pursuing closer integration with Europe.
It's a balancing act made all the more difficult amid rising European anger over Russian involvement in Eastern Ukraine.
But Serbian Defense Ministry Bratislav Gasic says the country is committed to maintaining relations with all parties.
(SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) SERBIAN DEFENSE MINISTER BRATISLAV GASIC SAYING:
"Militarily we are a neutral state, and we are devoted to four strategic pillars, which are the European Union, of course Russia, the United States and China."
As explosions reverberated from Russian armored personnel carriers firing 30 mm cannon and guided missiles, hundreds of soldiers advan
And watching the ground assault from a safe distance are Russian and Serbian military officials.
The unprecedented joint military drill underscores a delicate balancing act for Serbia -- safeguard relations with its big-power ally in Russia, while pursuing closer integration with Europe.
It's a balancing act made all the more difficult amid rising European anger over Russian involvement in Eastern Ukraine.
But Serbian Defense Ministry Bratislav Gasic says the country is committed to maintaining relations with all parties.
(SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) SERBIAN DEFENSE MINISTER BRATISLAV GASIC SAYING:
"Militarily we are a neutral state, and we are devoted to four strategic pillars, which are the European Union, of course Russia, the United States and China."
As explosions reverberated from Russian armored personnel carriers firing 30 mm cannon and guided missiles, hundreds of soldiers advan