28.04.2012.

Signing Agreement on Conversion of "Morava" Airport

Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac and Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Serbia Ali Riza Colak signed today the Grant Agreement for Financing the Project of Reconstruction of Part of the "Morava" Airport in Ladjevci. The donation is ten million euros worth.

Signing of the Agreement was attended by the Serbian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Ljubisa Dikovi? and Kraljevo Mayor Ljubisa Simovic.

On that occasion, Sutanovac emphasized that thanks to the Republic of Turkey the defence system obtains a modern airport, but that about two million people who live near the airport, will have the opportunity to travel to the world and to welcome guests in a modern way.

Conversion of the airport with the air traffic control tower costs 25 million euros. In addition to Turkey, its restoration was financially supported by the Serbian Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Serbian Agency for Flight Control and Belgrade Airport.

- "Morava" Airport is owned by the Ministry of Defence and the Republic of Serbia, which is great benefit for all of us. I hope that this summer you will have the opportunity to travel from that airport, the Defence Minister said.

Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey said that the project is a symbol of friendship between Serbia and Turkey and that it will be much easier for the population of the southern part of our country to travel to the world.

- I am confident that this project will continue and that there will be many more Turkish investments in Serbia in the forthcoming period, Ambassador Ali Riza Colak said .

Kraljevo Mayor pointed out that the "Morava" Airport is a generator of development for the entire region, not only for industrial-commercial development but also open friendship with all nations.

In August 2010, the Government of Serbia made a decision on the adoption of an investment programme for conversion of La?evci Airport, now the "Morava" Airport, from the military to mixed airport. It is the third airport in Serbia after those in Belgrade and Nis, with international characteristics.