22.09.2009.
Minister Sutanovac: "Batajnica 2009" air show big promotion of our country and our defense system home and abroad
In the Air Force Dome in Zemun a celebration occasioned by a successful organization and realization of “Batajnica 2009” air show was held last night. The Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac thanked to all who gave their contribution to the realization of the air show thus making this event another big promotion of Serbia and its defense system in the world.
He thanked all the members of MoD and Air Force for a hard work of several months on preparing for the air show, as well as to numerous donors who helped the realization of such and important manifestation and to the representatives of the media for providing continuous coverage of the program and the air show itself."This was the event with the largest number of visitors, some 150 .000 people visited the air show, which exceeded our expectations and this is something that no other ministry has ever done before”, as the minister of defense stressed.
"I am pleasantly surprised with the high number of foreign guests, and the participation of 14 countries and the delegations which came to visit the air show as that is the best proof that our country is highly respected, and that we are getting an increasing number of friends”, as Sutanovac said, emphasizing that this also contributes great to regional and wider stability.
The success of the air show can be seen in the fact that all went well and that foreign participants made no remarks about the organization of the air show. This makes us think about the air show next year, but it will certainly not be organized next year. Minister announced another very important test of the defense system at an exercise on Pester early October."It will be a demonstration of our operational capability in the field, which rounds up another very important period in our system, marked by high level visits from abroad, MEDCEUR exercise, an international air show, and a glorious promotion of new SAF officers in front of the National Assembly, and the exercise I have just announced.
In his welcome address to all the present Air Force Commander Brigadier General Ranko Zivak expressed great pleasure with the air show’s success and commended al those who helped with the organization of the air show. He underlined the support of the State Secretary Zoran Jeftic and the previous commander of Air Force General Dragan Katanic.
Thos who contributed the most were presented with acknowledgments and awards.
