BELGRADE - Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic received Algerian Ambassador Abdelkader Mesdoua in a farewell visit on Monday, and discussed further cooperation in the field of defense.

Gasic stressed that Serbia greatly appreciates the principled stance of Algeria not to recognize the independence of Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed by ethnic Albanians in this Serbian province, and expressed gratitude for the assistance and donation provided by this country after the devastating May floods.

Gasic and Mesdoua agreed that the military education and military economic cooperation between the two countries intensified, adding that there is room to enhance the military-to-military, military scientific and military medical cooperation as well, the Serbian Defense Ministry said in a release.

Ten Algerian officers participated in courses organized at the Chemical, biological, biological, radiological and nuclear defense (ABHO) personnel training center in Krusevac in 2014. According to announcements, seven military doctors and five engineers from Algeria will arrive for training in Serbia this month.

Gasic and Mesdoua also discussed the forthcoming visit by the Serbian defense minister to Algeria, which is scheduled to take place in the first quarter of 2015, the release states.