15.09.2014.

Second Serbian Armed Forces Special Forces team seen off to mission Atalanta

The second Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment which is to perform tasks under the auspices of the European Union mission Atalanta from 18th September until the middle of January next year was seen off in the Rastko Nemanjic baraks in Pancevo, today.

Deputy Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic wished the twelve-member team of Special Forces every success in the upcoming mission with the belief that by their work they will worthily represent the Serbian Armed Forces outside our borders, as their fellow peacekeepers do. He reminded that our military has increased its involvement in peacekeeping missions lately thus contributing to world peace.

General Draganic presented the state flag of the Republic of Serbia to Captain Goran Stevancevic, telling him to carry it with dignity and represent our troops together with his colleagues, in the best light.

According to Brigadier General Jelesije Radivojevića, Commander of the Special Brigade, this team passed a very complex several-month-long training in our country, but also in France and Greece, and the test to which they were subjected showed that they were able to complete the task.

Serbian Special Forces members will primarily take care of the security of the ship "MSM DOURO" which transports goods under the "World Food Programme". Humanitarian and commercial cargos in the waters near Somalia in previous years have often been the target of pirate attacks and the United Nations gave a mandate to the European Union to prevent attacks using its naval forces. Within the European Naval Forces, Serbian army engages the second autonomous vessel protection detachment in the row that, in the coming months, will carry out its mission in the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea and western Indian Ocean.

Although this mission is officially registered as a "medium risk" mission, Captain Goran Stevancevic, Commander of the detachment, says that the experience of the previous group of our specialists suggests that there are no major incidents, and that the mere presence of armed soldiers on board deter potential attackers. He pointed out that his detachment is well equipped for all the challenges that they could encounter.