12.09.2014.
Gasic and Ashenhurst on military cooperation between Serbia and the US
Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic met today with Commander of the Ohio National Guard Major General Deborah Ashenhurst. They stated that the bilateral military cooperation between the Armed Forces of Serbia and the US is the most develop part of the relations between the two countries.Gasic and Ashenhurst analyzed the results of the State Partnership Program and agreed that the cooperation should continue with the same intensity. With organization of numerous training programs, exercises and seminars, priorities also include continuation of working on the project of developing the “South” base. According to the jointly created and adopted Master Plan, the base should start working in full capacities from 2015, as the Regional center for training units for multinational operations. As Minister Gasic said, Serbia wishes to continue developing the base in accordance to the adopted dynamics of acquiring equipment and development by 2017.
Major General Deborah Ashenhurst stated that the previous exercise “Platinum Wolf 14” was the pinnacle of present cooperation and joint work in the development of the base. The interlocutors agreed that the upcoming exercise “Platinum Wolf 15” will be an excellent opportunity for a display of results. Ashenhurst stressed that the Ohio National Guard will continue supporting and helping the Armed Forces of Serbia, not only when it comes to the further development of the base, but in other fields as well.During the meeting, it was stated that the “Humanitarian Assistance” project, which includes reconstruction of one pre-school institution and an elementary school in Bujanovac, is of great importance and will further additionally strengthen the friendship between the two people.
In the goal of raising operational and functional capabilities of the SAF, Minister of Defence said that emphasis should remain on the military-military cooperation. The rising trend of cooperation could also be reached when it comes to deploying units in emergency and crisis situations, cyber security, clerical services and military medical cooperation, Gasic concluded.Minister of Defence congratulated the Commander of the Ohio National Guard in her recent appointment as the Chairperson at National Guard Association of the United States, especially since she is the first female general holding this responsible position.
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