29.01.2014.
Successful cooperation with the United States as part of the State Partnership Program
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In the continuation of the official working visit to the United States, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, Nebojsa Rodic was received by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Frank Grass, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Lieutenant General Michael Flynn and President of National Defense University Major General Gregg Martin.During the meeting at the Pentagon, attended also by the Ohio National Guard Adjutant General Major General Deborah Ashenhurst, Chief of the US National Guard Bureau has expressed his satisfaction with the results of cooperation in the framework of the State Partnership Programme of the Republic of Serbia and the Federal State of Ohio in the area of defence. He especially pointed out the success of joint work on the development of the Training Centre for multinational operations in the "South" base, which, like many other activities, make this cooperation distinguished compared to 65 State Partnership Programmes of the United States with countries throughout the world.
Minister Rodic pointed out that cooperation with the Ohio National Guard is very important for the Ministry of Defence, particularly for the Serbian Armed Forces, as it not only promotes military cooperation, but also contributes with its civil- military component which is reflected in the project of "Humanitarian Assistance" in the best possible way to the promotion of bilateral relations between the Republic of Serbia and the United States. He expressed gratitude for the help and support by the National Guard in organisation of the upcoming international exercise “PLATINUM WOLF 14", as well as expert assistance in the development of the chaplains’ service in the Serbian Armed Forces. He conveyed that the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces are committed to further promotion of military cooperation and raising it to a higher level through joint engagement of the medical teams of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ohio National Guard as part of any future medical readiness exercises. He invited General Grass to pay official visit to the Republic of Serbia, and together with the Ohio National Guard Adjutant General to traditionally attend this year's promotion of the youngest officers of the Serbian Armed Forces.
In the Defense Intelligence Agency, Minister Rodic met with the Director of the Agency Lieutenant General Michael Flynn and his associates. Minister was introduced to the organization, objectives, mission and vision of the work of the Defense Intelligence Agency, as well as plans for its reorganization in the conditions of new security threats in the forthcoming period. Lieutenant General Flynn has specially emphasized the need for a more active international cooperation between the intelligence community, both civilian and military, with a view to a permanent exchange of intelligence and joint work on preventing and combating current threats to peace and security at the global level.
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Minister Rodic conveyed that exactly the yesterday’s agreement that he signed with the Secretary of Defense of the United States will directly facilitate promotion of cooperation in the field of intelligence and security in any sense. He underlined the readiness of the defence system, but also the civilian intelligence community of the Republic of Serbia, to work on more intensive establishing closer and more concrete cooperation in the coming period. He pointed out that the knowledge, exchange of information and better communication are the main preconditions for future joint opposition to global security threats.During his stay at the United States National Defense University, Major General Gregg Martin introduced Minister Rodic to the history, organization and operation of the University. He thanked for the opportunity that students from all over the world, but primarily from the United States defence system can share experiences and knowledge with the staff of the Serbian Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and in this regard, he commended the selected staff that we have been sending to colleges within the National Defense University on education for many years. Ministar Rodic thanked for the given opportunity that the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces can educate their selected members at the United States National Defense University. It is also an evidence of our commitment and strong determination to maximize the investing in knowledge as the main resource of the future. He invited the President of the University to visit the Republic of Serbia in late February and to be a guest at the ceremony of celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the University of Defence of the Republic of Serbia.
After the meeting, Minister Rodic met also with the students of the National Defense University with whom he talked about the implementation of the curriculum so far and dynamics until the end of the one-year advanced education.
