Armed guards will be employed on airline flights between Germany and Serbia to ensure the safety of passengers, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Germany Ole Schroeder said.

They told after signing a joint statement that armed guards will contribute to greater safety in civil aviation.

At a joint press conference with Dacic, Schroeder said that there already are guards on flights between the two countries, but they carry no weapons yet.

It is now necessary to define the modalities for the use of the weapons, he said. Dacic explained that the agreement means that personnel of the Ministries of Internal Affairs of Serbia and Germany will be able to carry weapons on flights between the two countries.

He pointed out that Germany is one of the first countries with which Serbia has signed an agreement to this effect, noting that the initiative was launched even before he became a minister.

Dacic and Schroeder also signed a protocol between the governments of Serbia and Germany on the implementation of the agreement between the EU and Serbia on readmission of persons illegally residing in Germany.

They also signed an agreement on a donation of the German Interior Ministry to Serbia in the form of equipment worth EUR 45,000 for Serbian border police.