02.10.2019.
New Issue of “ODBRANA” published
New Issue of “ODBRANA” published
328, October 2019
The October issue of “Odbrana” (“Defense”) introduces several current, related topics. Domestically, it is the promotion of 160 Second Lieutenants of the Serbian Armed Forces. This issue is also marked by rich international military cooperation. Most notable is a five-day visit by a Chinese delegation led by General Zhang Youxia, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China. During that visit, Chinese delegation monitored the “Begej 2019” exercise. Upon completion of the exercise, an agreement was signed on the handover of equipment donated to the Serbian Armed Forces by the People’s Republic of China. The “Begej 2019” exercise also involved some of the assets that China had already donated to the Republic of Serbia over the previous period. Chinese representatives have also signed a memorandum with the Military Health Directorate establishing a Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Military Medical Academy.
The Chinese Armed Forces (People’s Liberation Army – PLA of China) are also referred to in the article by Jovan Čavoški from the Institute for Contemporary History of Serbia. Today, this Army is the world’s most numerous Armed Forces and is ranked among the three strongest in the world, along with the US and Russian Armed Forces; with regards to the defense spending, which officially stands at $ 177 billion (1.3% of GDP) this year, it olds a sovereign second place in the world rankings, behind the US.A delegation of the Ohio National Guard also visited Serbia and the Serbian Armed Forces. On 15 September, at Galovića polje in Pranjani, near Ravna Gora, its representatives attended the central event held on the occasion of 75th Anniversary of Operation Airbridge, known in the U.S. military circles as Operation Halyard (the largest Allied pilots rescue operation in World War II).
The SYSTEM Section is outstandingly rich in this issue. In addition to the text from the Joint Tactical Exercise “Begej 2019”, journalists, photo-reporters and associates of “Obrana” covered the exercise of the Western Military District in Russia, the Second International Competition of Military Drivers, held at the “Ribnica” Barracks in Kraljevo and at the “Beranovac” Motorway, training of members of the reserve squadron of 63 Special Brigade Parachute Battalion, and the participation of members of 63 Special Brigade Parachute Battalion in SAREX 38-19 exercise in a search and rescue mission.
There is also talk about the feat of Corporal Uroš Ždero, a military ambulance driver from the Health Care Department of 17 Mechanized Battalion of 1 Land Forces Brigade from Bačka Topola, who bravely saved the life of a boy injured in a serious car accident.
“Odbrana” presents a text about Karađorđevo’s revival and racing days as part of the Serbian Armed Forces Cup, and a special addition is dedicated to horses, noble and faithful human companions and almost “fellow soldiers” in wars.
Contributors to our magazine also provided us with interesting stories from around the world. Stories about the International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS), Russia’s largest aeronautical event held every second year in Moscow coming from the pen if Colonel and Professor Slaviša Vlačić, PhD. We can also recommend to readers an analytical text by Mikhail Kurakin, deputy Editor-in-Chief of Moscow’s “Международная жизнь” (“The International Affairs”) Magazine, about invaluable combat experience gained by the Russians in the operations in Syria.
An interlocutor for “Odbrana” was also Arnaudt Gouillon, who has received numerous awards for humanitarian work and assistance to Serbian enclaves in Kosovo and Metohija.
The CULTURE Section brings more short news, and is primarily devoted to the participation of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces at 64th International Book Fair in Belgrade.
We recommend to readers to have a look at a new section – The Lawyer’s Advice. Lieutenant Colonel Aleksandar Gavrilović, lawyer (B.Sc.) will be answering your questions of legal nature from the next issue of “Odbrana”. In this one, he addressed the issue of collective insurance for employees of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces.
