28.04.2015.

Minister Gasic in Krusevac

Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic, accompanied by Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic and Commander of the Training Command Lieutenant General Djokica Petrovic, visited today the barracks Car Lazar, where the action titled “Open day” was organized, and the military complex Ravnjak in Krusevac.

On this occasion, the Military Medical Academy organized actions of signing donor cards and voluntary blood donations, which were also attended by representative of Head of the Military Medical Academy Colonel Prof. Dr. Zoran Segrt, and, in the course of the “Prolong life” action, Minister Gasic signed the donor card.

According to Minister Gasic, Krusevac is one of brighter examples of how the Serbian Armed Forces returns to its glorious path, and the today’s visit was an opportunity to present all that had been done in the city with the help of the local self-government and public enterprises.

Commenting on the “Prolong life” action, Minister Gasic stressed that this was a humane gesture and one of the ways to help save someone’s life, adding that this was the right and decision of each individual.

- We must treat one another with solidarity, and help each other in each moment, even when we are no longer living – Minister Gasic stated.

Discussing the importance of becoming an organ donor, Colonel Segrt stressed that two kidney transplants had been successfully performed at the Military Medical Academy ten days ago, expressing his hope that this would be the case in the future as well.

During the “Open Day”, visitors had the opportunity to see SAF arms and equipment, demonstration of capabilities of service dogs, display of CBRN means, and to visit memorial rooms of the Logistics Training Center and the Staff Development Center of Rasina Brigade. Traditionally, the greatest interest for the action was present among the youngest citizens of Krusevac, and the SAF members gladly answered to all of their questions.
During the visit to the military complex Ravnjak near Krusevac, Deputy Commander of the CBRN Center Lieutenant Colonel Srdjan Rutic stressed that great means had been invested in the past period in order to bring this military training ground back to its “old glory”.

- Our goal is to improve the capacities for training of members of armed forces of other countries in the region and members of the Partnership for Peace Program together with members of our defence system. Here, we can realize training with toxic chemicals and radioactive isotopes of low radiation level, which makes us unique in the world, especially in this part of Europe – Lieutenant Colonel Rutic stressed.

According to him, these kinds of training are very expensive in some other countries and can cost up to one million euros for individual training per week. The specificity of this training ground, as he stressed, lies in the capability for training of units up to the company level, unlike in other centers where only individual training is possible, which is the main trump in future work of the training ground. He announced that the exercise “Balkan response”, which will be held in late May, would gather 330 participants from the countries of the region, and that around 100 motor vehicles and various arms would be deployed.