13.07.2014.

Cooperation with the USA

Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence Zoran Djordjevic spoke today with Evelyn Farkas, Deputy Assistant USA Secretary of Defense for Russia/Ukraine/Eurasia about cooperation in the field of defence.

During the meeting, it has been pointed out that the exercise “Platinasti Vuk 2014” had fulfilled the expectations and that it is necessary to continue working on the project of the “Jug” base development into a regional center for training multinational operations. State Secretary Djordjevic thanked the USA for their donations for modernization and better equipment of the “Jug” base and the units that will be deployed in multinational operations.

Interlocutors agreed that joint exercises and training of members of the Armed Forces of Serbia and USA should remain the focal point of military cooperation.

One of the projects that will undoubtedly add extra quality to present cooperation is joint deployment of medical teams of the Armed Forces of Serbia and the National Guard of Ohio at humanitarian exercises.

It has been evaluated that projects like “Humanitarian Assistance” are of great importance for friendly relations between the two countries. During 2015, in the course of this project, a pre-school facility and the Music Elementary School at the Municipality of Bujanovac will be renovated.

Thanking USA for their help during disastrous floods, State Secretary Djordjevic emphasized that, in this moment, initiating the “Humanitarian Assistance” project would be of great significance at one of the municipalities hit by the natural disaster.

Secretary of State Djordjevic and Evelyn Farkas, Deputy Assistant USA Secretary of Defense also determined the details on several activities planned in the next period. Among others, they mentioned the visits of Chief of the National Guard Bureau Frank Grass in July, USA Navy Minister Ray Mabus in August and Ohio National Guard Commander Major General Deborah Ashenhurs in September this year.