20.03.2012.

Ukranian defense minister visits Serbia

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac met today with Minister of Defense of Ukraine Dmitar Salamatin in the House of Guards at Topcider.

The visit of Ukrainian Minister of Defence aims at improving cooperation between the two countries in defense.

The Ministers discussed political and security situation in the region, defense reform, and then the talks focused on regional cooperation with the European Union and the improvement of military technical cooperation.

On that occasion, Sutanovac expressed his pleasure at being able to welcome Minister of Defense of Ukraine.

- The fact that the Ukraine minister has so far visited the Russian Federation, and today Serbia bespeaks of the great respect that we cherish each other. This visit is the result of an agreement that we made during the visit of President Boris Tadic to Ukraine - said the defense minister adding Serbia an Ukraine have no issues to resolve, which facilitates cooperation in defense even more.

Sutanovac noted that the topics of this meeting was cooperation between the two countries in the field of military education, training, joint maneuvers, the most important issue was the military technical cooperation.

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There is a mutual need to prepare our units in both Serbia and the Ukraine, to have joint exercises and training, and there was mutual interest in cooperation in the field of military education in Serbia and in Ukraine - said Sutanovac.

He underlined that the mixed commission was formed for Military Technical Cooperation which will soon be in session for the third time, with cooperation in overhaul of the armaments and military equipment.

He also expressed hope that the two countries would join forces to manufacture that would qualify for the third market.

- Ukraine is one of major powers in the production of armaments and military equipment and as such it is very interesting for cooperation - said the Minister adding that last year Serbia’s export reached a record of approximately $ 250 million.

Serbian defense minister also said that in the last four years we have made more q.5 billion USD worth of contracts in the field of military industry.

- As in Serbia, Ukraine’s primary foreign policy goal is joining the European Union. Along the way we want to give them our experience that has proved to be very good. Let me remind you that the Serbian Army has joined the EU Military Committee and the 22nd March, we expect final confirmation of the decision on opening negotiations, between the Ministry of Defence of Serbia and the European Defence Agency, said the minister reminding this would be a great boost for our defense industry.

Expressing satisfaction with today's visit to Serbia, Minister Salamatin thanked for the warm welcome and good atmosphere during the negotiations.

- We have discussed today and discussed the mutual cooperation of military education, starting and ending Military Technical cooperation. We came to the conclusion that there is no problem and that there will be no problems in the mutual cooperation between our two countries. So we are very pleased with the negotiations that have just been completed, the minister said Salamatin.

Ukrainian Defense Minister added that his country is in the process of major reforms in the army and that their experience of Serbia serves as an example, and he hopes that contacts between the two countries would continue to expand.

ANSWERS TO REPORTER’S QUESTIONS

As regards the overhaul of air crafts and the products Serbia can export to Ukraine and what this country has to offer Serbia, Sutanovac replied that Ukraine is one of the strongest countries in terms of military aircraft and that they are performing the modernization of Russian helicopters.

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Ukraine produces aircraft An26 which we possess, while also modernizing Russian helicopters MI8, Mi17, Mi24 and Mi35 we are interested. Our Military Technical Institute has recently worked on important projects, such as unmanned air crafts, which may also be a product of joint work between our two countries which we can place and promote at other markets. So far, Serbia has purchased certain Ukrainian products in smaller quantities, but we still have not had discussions as a possible selling and buying but as partners, Sutanovac stated.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Dimitar Salamatin added that there are talks about the cooperation in the military technical field and these questions are very interesting to both countries.

Minister of Defense of Ukraine will visit the Military Technical Institute today, and Yugoimport – SDPR defense industry.