15.09.2011.
SAF CHOD meets with the Chairman of the EU Military Committee Gen Syren
Serbian Army Chief of General Staff Gen. Miloje Miletic, met today in the building of General Staff with the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee General Hakan Syren.General Miletic pointed out that this was the first working visit of the EU Military Committee to Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia and that this was the first time when a UN anthem had been heard at a military ceremony in our country.
- I believe that today's visit of General Siren is very important event for our military, and the Republic of Serbia. It is known that our country's foreign policy priority is EU membership. Therefore, we seek to, among other things, harmonize our security policy with that of European Union, especially since we believe that we share the same basic beliefs and values - General Miletic said, adding that the signing of the the Agreement on security procedures for the exchange of confidential information between our countries and the EU as well as the Agreement on Establishing the framework for cooperation as regards our military involvement in EU operations for crisis management have created legal basis for continuing negotiations on active participation of our military in these operations.
According to Chief of Staff, the EU common Security and Defence Policy provides an opportunity for non EU countries EU to participate in various activities in the field of defense, such as training, capacity building and participation in EU missions. - It is known that after the professionalization of our armed forces, at the end of last year, one of the main activities of our military was involvement in EU missions, which I have discussed with General Syren - General Miletic said.
Speaking about the significance of the visit, General Syren said he was mostly interested in understanding the transformation of our military.
- It is a great project and I know that the professionalization is a process that requires a lot of work, is extremely difficult for a conscript-based military system to become a professional army - General Siren said, adding that it is necessary to discuss the current situation to see where we are and where we go from here because it is very important in terms of future integration of the Serbina Armed Forces in EU operations.
Another reason for visiting is also a to discuss the in which the Serbian army is already involved, and the current EU missions in Bosnia, Somalia and Uganda. Another topic of discussion will be the development of military capabilities, a hot topic in all 27 EU member states, which are all experiencing financial difficulties. - I think that we will have to regroup and make a new schedule in a very short time, in order to use common resources so as to be able to follow and keep track of certain level of operations - General Syren said, adding that this was crucial when it comes to the transformation of our military.
During the two-day visit in our country, General Siren will meet with representatives of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of the National Assembly Committee for Defence and Security
