06.11.2014.

Bilateral consultations with FR Germany

Delegation of the Federal Ministry of Defence, headed by Deputy Head of the International Cooperation Department Frigate Captain Markus Bruggemeier is visiting the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, Nov 5-7 2014, for bilateral defence consultations and arrangement of activities for the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan.

The meeting confirmed the successful cooperation, support for further development and establishing guidelines for the cooperation in the next period. They also conducted a detailed and qualitative analysis of realized activities and agreed on activities for 2015 that reflect the needs of the two systems in the field of defence and possibilities for its improvement.

During the official talks, Head of the Department for International Military Cooperation Colonel Milan Konjikovac conveyed his satisfaction with the level of achieved bilateral cooperation in the field of defence and the continuation of regular bilateral defence consultations where strategic guidelines from staff meetings and high-level meetings are operationalized. He reminded that, at the previous bilateral defence consultations in Berlin in 2013, interest had been expressed for joint deployment in EUTM Mali mission. In the period between the two consultations, with joint efforts, the initiative has been shaped and operationalized. The Technical Agreement on Deployment was signed, and preparations for the beginning of joint deployment in the EU mission for training of military and security forces of Mali are at the finishing stage. Joint deployment will be a significant step forward and a qualitative improvement of cooperation in the field of defence.

He thanked the Federal Ministry of Defence of Germany for the support to military education through their program “Help in training and education”. He specifically stressed the significance of improvement of cooperation in the field of CBRN and military medicine, and through joint exercise activities.

Lieutenant Colonel Markus Bruggemeier assessed the bilateral cooperation in the field of defence as developed, with the possibility of qualitative and quantitative improvement in fields of mutual interest. He conveyed his interest in joint deployment in multinational operations and restated the support and readiness for exchange of practices within the Common Security and Defence Policy and the European Defence Agency.

Agreement has been reached on the Bilateral Military Cooperation Plan for 2015, and the arranged activities enable the continuation of cooperation in main fields.