29.10.2010.

Minister at the arms fair in Thessaloniki

Defence Ministers of Greece, Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary, Cyprus and Bosnia have expressed their absolute support for Serbia's progress towards Europe, said today Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac, who had spoke with his counterparts in Thessaloniki, at the arms fair held there

Sutanovac, after talks with his counterparts after the meeting international arms fair in Thessaloniki, told Tanjug news agency that his interlocutors had expressed satisfaction that Serbia “was fully opened to Europe".

"What is extremely important to note is that Serbia wants to become part of the European system of security as well , thus enabling our army to benefit from this integration”, as minister said in a telephone statement to the national news agency.

Furthermore, as Defence Ministe said, he was convinced "that our future activities would most certainly speed up Serbia’s accession to the EU.”

"Our defense system is obviously greatly respected by our colleagues and it is expected that we will show our real skills and know how in near future," said Minister of Defence of Serbia.

According to Minister Sutanovac , it is important to us that our colleagues hold us in high esteem as they understand the way we are reforming the defense system and that " the reforms are very impressive and successful."

Sutanovac said that the Arms and Military Equipment Fair, organized by the Ministry of Defence of Greece, is exceptionally well attended, reminding that Belgrade would host a similar organization next year.

"The following year, Serbia will organize an Arms and Military Equipment Fair under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense and 'Yugoimport SDPR', and we expect to have potential buyers come from all over the world come to the fair”.

Sutanovac said that next year he expected those presenters of arms and military equipment, "who have so far mostly avoided Serbia to come to Belgrade."

" Serbia is making huge steps to export its arms and military equipment, thus making the cooperation in developing weapons with foreign partners highly likely," said the Serbian minister.

Further on in his statement, Sutanovac today expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the agreement by which six air crafts have been returned to Serbia, namely, "Galeb G4" from Montenegro, announcing a similar takeover of "Orao" air crafts from Bosnia.

The two remaining air craft’s "Galeb G4, the last of six air crafts of this type, landed at Batajnica today in accordance with the agreement on the exchange of resources and documents between the governments of Serbia and Montenegro.

"After the landing we are looking ahead at the job of sending the air crafts to be repaired and modernized, and then into operational units," the minister said in a telephone statement to the Tanjug news agency in Thessaloniki.

He pointed out that the Ministry is extremely satisfied with the implementation of the agreement, bearing in mind that these planes are in good condition and that our army could use them for training and exercise in near future.

Sutanovac said that,in an informal talks with his counterparts during fair, he had spoken with the Minister of Defence, "regarding the takeover of arms and military equipment that are a surplus in the armed forces of BiH.

"First of all this refers to Orao air crafts, and it is our wish to, just like we did with Montenegro, take over or buy these planes from BiH, thus completing our fleet, when it comes to these fighter planes" he said.

With two air crafts Galeb G4 "Serbia took over a total of six such aircrafts from Montenegro, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement signed in mid-April, by defense ministers of Serbia and Montenegro Dragan Sutanovac and Boro Vucinic respectively.

According to the Agreement on the exchange of resources and documents, the Serbian Army gets six-planes "Galeb G4, which after the dissolution of the State Union remained in Montenegro, and the local armed forces have no need for using them. In addition to these air crafts, Serbia will get the spare parts and equipment for aircraft that are deployed by the Army of Montenegro.

The Montenegrin side in turn shall receives shares that Serbia has in "Novi prvoborac" a Herceg Novi-based arms company, and a night start device much needed by the Montenegrin air base along with some personnel documents in the possession of the Ministry of Defence of Serbia.

Bosnia still has some of these Orao air crafts, which have remained there from the period of ex Yugoslavia, not in use by the current BiH Federation. These air crafts could well serve the cadets of the Military Academy of Serbia and the young pilots for school and fighter training.