10.03.2014.

Media training for members of the Serbian Armed Forces

Four-day media training for the members of the Serbian Armed Forces, which is part of the Protocol on the Assistance of the Embassy of the United Kingdom to the Directorate of Public Relations of the Ministry of Defence, began at the Central Military Club today. Participants were addressed by the Head of Public Relations of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, Colonel Petar Boskovic and Defence Attaché of the UK Embassy in Belgrade Colonel William English.

Colonel Boskovic welcomed the audience and thanked colleagues from the United Kingdom on a very important partnership.

- It is important not only for understanding of the role of public relations and training that is to be held, but also for the really important role of media operations, especially in the defence system. Although we have public affairs officers at the brigade level, we are still making efforts to introduce the service and to make their place and role more important, and that every public affairs officer is a spokesman for the unit in which he operates. Try to adopt as more information and the knowledge presented at the training as possible, and try to apply it in your unit. It is not easy, but for this job, apart from the necessary knowledge, you have to love it, Colonel Boskovic said and wished everyone successful work in the training.

Colonel English pointed out that cooperation with the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, during his previous engagement in Serbia, was still at a very high level.

- We have come to the point that our cooperation enters a new, higher level. We all know that, historically, the United Kingdom and Serbia have a lasting relationship filled with good characteristics. It is so also at present, as we are working a lot on maintaining this relationship. Work during the training is important, because it builds up the existing programme that the Public Relations Department has. During the training, you will master the technique of conveying information, which is not an easy task, and you should be proud of being the one that has been chosen to be officers who will perform this duty. The team from the United Kingdom in this media training consists of people with a lot of experience, and they will show you how does it work with us, but we will have a chance to see how you are doing that. Therefore, we will all benefit from the exchange of information, because it is best when we learn from each other, Colonel English said.

The assistance is intended for the project "Development of Public Relations of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia on the Internet and social networks doe the purpose of promoting the activities in the domain of the Partnership for Peace peacekeeping missions and Euro-Atlantic cooperation". The project includes seminars, courses and professional development of employees in the Public Relations Department, media training, training and organization of professional seminars for journalists who report on the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces.