14.04.2010.

Ministers of Defence of Serbia and Montenegro signed an agreement on the exchange of property

Serbian Defence Minister Dragan Šutanovac and Montenegrin Defence Minister Boro Vucinic signed an agreement on the exchange of resources and documents between the two governments, at the airport of Batajnica, today. Serbian Armed Forces obtained six Galeb G4 aircraft that remained in Montenegro following the split-up of the two states and their armed forces have no need for their use.

Ministers Šutanovac and Vucinic put in operation Galeb G4 flight simulator that was sent from Podgorica as a gift from the Government of Montenegro.

Minister Šutanovac pointed out that this was the first official visit by the Minister of Defence of Montenegro, after two of his visits in 2007 and 2009. Cooperation in the field of defence between the two countries is very good and there is space for its further deepening – Šutanovac said.

He stressed that the Serbian Armed Forces, in addition to six G4 aircraft, received also the spare parts and equipment for the aircraft that are not in use in the Montenegrin Armed Forces.

The agreement stipulates that the Montenegrin side obtains shares that the Serbian state have had in the enterprise "Novi Prvoborac" from Herceg Novi so far, a night vision device that is needed in the Montenegrin Air Forces, as well as certain personnel documentation that is now in the possession of the Serbian MoD.

The Minister said that the mentioned aircraft will be repaired and probably operational in the Serbian Armed Forces by September 2011, depending on the money available. Their resources are valid until 2015, Šutanovac said.

Šutanovac reminded of the excellent cooperation in the field of military education between the two countries. According to him, 44 members of the Montenegrin Armed Forces completed their education and advancement in the Serbian military educational institutions so far. Currently, there are 14 cadets from Montenegro attending the undergraduate studies at the MA, and one educated at MMA. Two officers are attending the advancement studies at the Command Staff and the General Staff Schools, the Minister said.

As both the ministers announced, two officers from Montenegro will soon arrive to the CBRN Personnel Training Centre at Kruševac, while military schools in Serbia will continue to educate personnel from that country.

Minister Boro Vucinic agreed with his Serbian counterpart concerning the importance of the visit, adding that it had not only political, but also a working character. According to him, this is a step towards improving relations between the two countries.

Montenegro, according to Vucinic’s words, is committed to regional cooperation and Euro-Atlantic integration, and accordingly the development of cooperation with Serbia. He announced the signing of the Plan for bilateral military cooperation with Serbia soon, which will specify the joint steps in the field of defence between the two countries.

Replying to the questions of the journalists Minister Šutanovac said that there were “no open items” between the Ministry of Defence of Serbia and Montenegro regarding the succession, with which Vu?ini? agreed.

Šutanovac added that an initiative will be launched to bring the armaments and military equipment that are not used in the Armed Forces of BiH from the Republic of Srpska to Serbia applying the same model.