20.10.2011.

First Serbian officers in an EU peace mission

French Ambassador Francois-Xavier Denio hosted this evening at the French embassy in Belgrade on the occasion of receiving the two Serbian Army officers in the mission "Atalanta" in the European Union in Somalia. The reception was attended by Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac and Head of EU Delegation to Serbia, Vincent Degert.

Majors Vladan Bodrozic and Dusko Stanic will soon join the crew of "Floreal" fregate participating in the first maritime operation of the European Union, which was launched in the prevention, prevention and suppression of piracy activity and armed robberies along the coast of Somalia.

Minister Sutanovac and his French counterpart, Gerard Longuet, signed on 7 April this year in Paris an agreement on defense cooperation, on the basis of which the two Serbian officers are to board the frigate "Floreal", on 26 October, where they will spend six weeks as part of the EU peace operation "Atalanta".

Speaking about the importance of the first part of our officers in the EU's peacekeeping mission in the French contingent, Sutanovac said that "although not a very happy day to talk about the security of our southern province," has openly expressed his pleasure that in cooperation with French partners we are sending, for the first time in the history of our country, two naval officers on a mission against pirates.

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Only 4 years ago, we had 17 members of the Serbian armed forces sent in five peacekeeping missions, and today we have nearly four times as many members, 67 members, as we are driven by a desire to contribute to global peace, with the belief that in this way we can protect the peace in Kosovo and Metohija - Sutanovac said, adding that we want to be friends with those who today defend peace in the world, because it is in the tradition of our army, and we want to keep it so in the future.

According to him, today's symbolic act is of historic importance and it marks a new era in the history of the Serbian Armed Forces, as well as the history of relations between Serbia and the EU. The minister also expressed appreciation to all members of our armed forces who have taken various rotations in peacekeeping missions, because they protect the interests of the Serbian citizens in the best possible way.

The recommendations of the European Commission mention the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia very bashfully not because we are bad, but because we have long ago met all the standards and obligations required of us. We did not understand them as an imposition, but as a way to organize the army in a modern way with modern male and female officers- Sutanovac said, adding that the mission in Somalia is just the beginning, and that our naval officers would soon board the Greek naval ships as well as in other peacekeeping missions around the world.

- Serbia will thus be seen as a country that exports peace. Unlike in the nineties when we were the source of the problem, now that our army offers solutions- said Sutanovac.

The head of EU Delegation in Serbia, Vincent Degert, in last night’s speech said that cooperation between Serbia and EU defense and security is of strategic importance, especially now that the European Commission recommended that Serbia get EU candidacy.

- Serbia is of vital importance not only as a force for stability in Europe, but also as a factor of stability in general - said Degert.

French Ambassador Francois-Xavier Denio expressed satisfaction that Serbia has chosen France as a partner for his first involvement in a European military operation, adding that the choice testifies to the excellence of our relations.

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You know our position that there is no real defense in Europe without a strong military capability and real industrial and technological policy. That is the meaning of our agreement and its implementation through concrete actions - said the French ambassador, expressing a wish that they, consciously and responsibly improve European defense, the welfare and safety in the service of our nation.

Majors Vladan Bodrozic and Dusko Stanic expressed satisfaction that they are given a chance to participate in an U mission where they will gain new experience in multinational operations, which they would convey for the purpose of enhancing the training of future participants in the peacekeeping missions, under the United Nations and the European Union auspices. They specifically pointed out that they were fully ready to go on a mission, confident that they will complete all tasks.

EUNAVFOR naval forces were established in 2008 on the UN Security Council resolution to fight against Somali pirates. In the European naval forces involved around 1,800 people, operating in the area covering the southern part of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the western part of the Indian Ocean.

This first participation of the Republic of Serbia in a European Union military operation, together with France, is new step forward in relation to the future engagement of the Serbian Army in the European Union missions. Just days after the European Commission to the European Council has forwarded a recommendation to approve the candidacy of Serbia, Serbian clearly confirms its commitment to continue contributing to the Common European Foreign and Security Policy. Agreements have been signed this year on the exchange of confidential information and the participation of Serbia in the civilian and military EU operations, that will enable the development of this type of engagement in European operations.