30.03.2011.
The meeting of the NATO/PfP Steering Committee for Helping Discharged Military Personnel
The meeting of the Steering Committee of the NATO Partnership for Peace Trust Fund for Assistance to Discharged Defence Personnel in the Republic of Serbia was held today at the Directorate for a career change with the Department for Tradition, Standard and Veterans.
The meeting, which marks the final phase of the project, was attended by representatives of 18 donor countries, led by the Kingdom of Norway, the Ministry of Defence and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) which is the bearer of the project.The Head of the Department for Traditions, Standards and Veterans, Colonel Sladjan Ristic said that this project was an example of successful cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of our country, NATO member states, the Partnership for Peace Program and the International Organization for Migration. He stressed the need for continued cooperation, presenting a proposal for a new project which will focus, this time not only on professional soldiers, but on other members of the defense system who will be made redundant, if necessary, possibly during the next two years. Help would be reflected in advising and providing grants of up to 1,500 euros for starting up an independent business, subsidized employment or specific courses.
According to Colonel Ristic, the project would last two years and plans to provide 300 financial assistance packages of up to 1,500 euros per year, based on the established criteria. Total direct support to customers for two years would amount to 900,000 euros. The Ministry of Defence sees potential partners in donor countries, IOM, the National Employment Service, as well as business incubators and other government agencies responsible for employment and economic development.
Colonel Ristic said he expected the project draft to be completed by June, adding that for its implementation international help would be needed and much appreciated, but this time in the form of bilateral cooperation.
In the final part of today's meeting, Norwegian Defense Attaché Colonel Esben Os, Head of Mission of IOM Gregoire Gudstajn, and the project manager Mauricio Gia?ero spoke about the implemented activities, plans for the future, as well as the financial plans for the future period.
Participants at the meeting also agreed on the necessity to continue cooperation in the area and after the termination of the program, setting out proposals on the different modalities of encouraging national and international institutions on the importance of continuing these and similar activities.
The next Steering Committee meeting is planned for late May, which will be the last in a series of regular meetings, as the project ends in June, when the final conference is scheduled.
