06.10.2011.

Conference “OTEH 2011” opens

Two day international scientific conference on defence technologies “OTEH” has been held in Belgrade in the organization of the Defence Ministry and Military Technical Institute.

Alongside guest from the world of science, this fourth scientific conference was attended by the Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac, Serbian Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff, General Miloje Miletic with his associates, state secretaries at Defence Ministry, Serbian Armed Forces heads of management and generals, as well as numerous military diplomatic representatives accredited in Belgrade.

Opening this biennial scientific gathering and greeting the guests and participants from, as he said, 15 friendly states, Defence Minister Sutanovac, emphasised, among others, that for Serbia’s sustainable economic development, it was necessary to raise the level of knowledge and improve the technological basis of the entire industry.

In this regard, one of the key roles belongs to the Military Technical Institute, as our major institution for research and development in the defence field, said Minister Sutanovac. – Defence Ministry will continue with its activities towards development of the Military Technical Institute’s capacities, through staff renewal, improvement in the IT infrastructure and the laboratory equipment as well as intensifying of cooperation with counterpart institutions world-wide. We will maintain an upward trend in investments in research and development projects. That is a necessary factor in revitalization of Serbia in the fields of aviation, automotive industry, chemical, electro, mechanical and many other industrial branches.

Emphasising that during the last two years Defence Ministry invested in development projects more that it was the case in the previous ten years, Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac said,

- In those programmes, realized by the Military Technical Institute, participants are not only colleagues from the industry, but renowned experts from other institutes and universities in Serbia as well. Their attendance at OTEH 2011 demonstrates the unbreakable connection between technique intended for defence and civilian needs. Serbia is opening itself. Serbia is also completely open to all forms of international cooperation in the fields of education, research, development and production of weapons and military equipment, from the exchange of researchers through common development projects to joint appearance in the markets of the Third World countries. The Military Technical Institute will also open its door to the second cycle of education for colleagues from Algeria. We are again sending our researchers, for further education, to internationally known institutions, such as Cranfield University in Great Britain. The laboratory capacities are permanently open for our colleagues from Turkish defence industry. Through EU Defence Agency we create possibilities for inclusion of our capacities into the EU research and military projects. As a member of the Partnership for Peace Programme, Serbia is more actively engaged in the NATO programmes as well. Faraway, but friendly China is being drawn closer by having more visits of its experts this year than in the previous two decades. By organizing this event, Defence Ministry and the Republic of Serbia send the message that they want to contribute to the regional security and scientific cooperation and to enhance military-technical relations with all partner countries, Minister Sutanovac pointed out.

Participants of this year’s international scientific and expert conference OTEH, whose official language is, for the first time, English, were also greeted by the Director of the Military Technical Institute, Colonel Doc. Dr. Zoran Rajic. He pointed out that the Institute views this event as an opportunity for exchange of experiences and learning about the scientific achievements in the world of defence technologies, and as a creation of conditions for even closer cooperation in that area. Among the first to address the guests was also Director of Nikola Tesla Museum Vladimir Jelenkovic. He spoke about the scientific and technical achievements of the renowned Nikola Tesla.

The work was then continued through three introductory lectures. The speakers were guests from Canada, Turkey and Russia.

Following the plenary session, the presentation of works continued in workshops. This year, 139 papers were submitted by 315 authors and co-authors from 16 countries – Algeria, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, New Zealand, Russia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and Great Britain. The presented papers contain original theoretical and practical research results, as well as, depictions of practical solutions or devices from the conference thematic fields. Papers from nine thematic fields are to be presented in 15 separate sessions.

The visit to the most important laboratories of the Military Technical Institute, exhibition of books, weapons and military equipment exhibits, and, especially, exhibition of the Museum “Nikola Tesla” exhibits were scheduled by OTEH’s programme.
That scientific-expert event takes place every two years for a more comprehensive and multidisciplinary consideration of scientific and technological developments in defence field.

In a response to journalists’ questions during the conference break, Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac said that it was difficult to find Serbia on the world map.

- However, if you take a look at the statistics and those texts, which refer to defence technologies, written by internationally renowned newspapers, you will see that we are at the peak of our country’s capacities. I have to say that, today, there is a great interest in the world for cooperation and production. It is known that our budget was also reduced amidst the economic crisis, but there are countries which want to invest together with us and to launch products that will be intended for both domestic and world market. Serbia is today one of the biggest exporters in the Southeast Europe precisely in the field of defence industries, and we intend to remain one. I remind you that in a few visits during the previous month we reinforced the possibility of cooperation in the field of military and construction industry, and this will be a set we will repeat in the future as well.

Speaking about the session of the Serbian Parliament’s Board for Defence and Security at which the conflict in Jarinje was discussed, Minister Sutanovac said that the relevant authorities objectively presented the events that took place on that crossing on September 27, but that he was not authorised to provide data from that session.

Sutanovac said that the mentioned view “does not show the concrete guilt of either of the sides, but implies that it is somewhere in the middle”. He added that, today, in Serbia, the biggest courage is needed to be able to say that the truth is neither black nor white, but somewhere in-between.

- That is why we make maximum efforts to find the solution in dialogue, and not in conflict, said Sutanovac, adding, “all those who believe that the solution can be reached through conflict should only take a look at how it ended for us in the nineties of the last century”.

He added that he had no information that KFOR sent Serbia videos of what was happening during the last incidents at the administrative crossing Jarinje. “Certainly, KFOR probably has some videos, but I did not have a chance to see them until now”, said Sutanovac.