31.08.2012.
Minister Vucic meets with the ONG commander
Defense Minister Aleksandar Vucic met today with the commander of the Ohio National Guard, Major General Deborah Ashenhurst.
During the meeting both sides emphasized the importance of cooperation within the State Partnership Program, which is mutually beneficial and important in all aspects of bilateral military cooperation.Vucic stressed that Serbia would not join the NATO alliance, but that in the framework of the Partnership for Peace Serbia will continue to develop good cooperation with all partner countries.
Defence Minister expressed hope that the Ohio National Guard will continue to support the reform of the defense system in the future too, particularly in the areas of professionalization of the armed forces, participation in joint training and exercises, to strengthen the capacity of regional cooperation and further education and training of members of the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Serbia.
Vucic expressed satisfaction that together with U.S. Ambassador Mary Warlick, and Commander of the National Guard, General Ashenhurst, they will have the honor to attend the ceremony marking the completion of the renovation of the primary school "Svetozar Markovic" in Kraljevo, which was jointly implemented by members of the Ohio National Guard and the Army of Serbia within the project "Humanitarian Assistance" by the U.S. European Command.
Furthermore, Vucic thanked the U.S. side for helping in equipping and modernization of systems and donating 17 Hummer SUVs, who, through the Foreign Military Assistance Program will be delivered to the Serbian Army.He particularly emphasized the importance of expert assistance to National Guard base for further development of the "South" and the impending training of military priests for the Serbian Army.
Major General Deborah Ashenhurst pointed out that the State Partnership with Serbia is one of the best that the United States has had among other 60 countries around the world and confirmed the continued support and assistance in all center areas of cooperation. She suggested that the newly appointed defense minister will soon visit the State of Ohio so as to get personally acquainted with the capacities and capabilities of the National Guard.
