12.06.2015.
Serbian peacekeepers sent off to the mission in the Central African Republic
The SAF Contingent has been ceremonially sent-off to MINUSCA mission in the Central African Republic, and the ceremony and the handover of the state flag at Banjica 2 barracks were attended by Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic, Chief of General Staff General Ljubisa Dikovic, with members of the Collegium, and families and friends of the Serbian peacekeepers. 68 SAF members have been sent to the UN mission in the heart of Africa. They will be deployed in medical care for members of the mission within the deployable medical facility of our contingent, and the state flag will be carried to the Serbian headquarters in Bangui by Commander of the contingent Colonel Goran Radosavljevic.
Wishing a safe travel and good health to the SAF members that are being referred to MINUSCA mission in the Central African Republic in the course of the second rotation, Minister Gasic conveyed positive impressions and commendations for the professionalism of our peacekeepers that he had had the chance to witness during the visits to our members deployed in peacekeeping operations.
- I am very proud when, while visiting our missions across the world, an Italian, Spanish, French, and today a Belgian general tells me that SAF members are always gladly welcomed – Minister Gasic stressed.
He told the gathered “blue berets” that this was their achievement, as was the evaluation, which he had encountered during his visits, that our each member deployed in 10 current EU and UN missions could be an instructor to members of other contingents.- They say that SAF is a very well-organized and trained military and, working in such missions, and this must one of the most difficult missions we are engaged in at the moment, you transfer and spread the glory of your country and your military – Minister of Defence stressed.
As the contingent Commander Colonel Radosavljevic stressed, deployment in a multinational operation is a professional challenge, and it is a great honour to be the commander of a national contingent, as it is an opportunity to test your personal capabilities, and those of the unit you lead into the operation zone, but also to improve them.
- We are going there to contribute to the stabilization of the situation in the Central European Republic under the mandate of the MINUSCA mission – Colonel Radosavljevic stressed.
Since the end of the last year, the Serbian Armed Forces has deployed military observers, staff officers and the military medical facility for providing healthcare to the forces in the UN mission in the Central African Republic. Currently, 336 of our members are deployed in 10 UN and EU missions across the world.
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