24.08.2009.
Minister in Prokuplje
Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac visited Bambi kindergarten in Prokuplje where the members of the Ohio National Guard and of SAF are conducting reconstruction and adaptation works.The construction site was visited by the Commander of the Army Lt. Gen. Ljubisa Dikovic, Deputy Joint Operations Command Brigadier General Milan Mojsilovic, Head of the Civil-Military Cooepration Section of SAF GS Colonel Milenko Lalovic, charge d’ affairs of US Embassy in Belgrade Jennifer Brush, and the head of Toplica district Srdjan Jordacijevic and the reps of local self-government.
– This is just another project which has been conducted since September 2006, when we signed the State Partnership Cooperation Agreement. We have conducted more than 30 joint activities so far, predominantly pertaining to military-military cooperation. This is the first project within civil-military cooperation, and we wish to make use of this partnership as much is possible. During these activities in Prokuplje and Soko Banja some 70 members of the Ohio National Guard are reconstructing kindergartens and schools. The American army has extensive experience in the domain of civil-civil cooperation and the reconstruction works on the school and kindergarten in Prokuplje will mean a lot to the children in this region.The project “Humanitarian assistance” is one of the many activities of cooperation with US. The bearers of the project are EUCOM, ONG, SAF GS and SAF Army. These works are being done in the period 6 August-2 September in the municipalities of Prokuplje, Soko Banja and Lapovo, with 22 members of our army being deployed and the total value of the works is USD 385.000.
– During my 35 years of work in Serbia, this is one of our most fulfilled days. I thank the members of ONG for coming to see Serbia, and to SAF members and Prokupje citizens, as Jennifer Brush said.
The Principal of Bambi kindergarten Dusanka Pavlovic stressed that the kindergarten would benefit from the project, and that it would be now warmer with added warmth of the members of SAF and our new American friends.
Milan Arsovic, the President of Prokuplje municipality said that thanks to the work and will of American friends, the children will have a new space for playing and education. Minister Sutanovac said that this project would be as valuable as the children are happy.
Answering the reporters’ question on the reduction of the number of KFOR members, Minister stated the following: “Such a decision should be made in agreement with the Serbian authorities. KFOR is certain that the situation in Kosovo is stable and that 10000 members would be enough to prevent any possible terrorist threats. It is a serious military force and we insisted that should there be any destabilization, KFOR should make the first move.
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