15.09.2015.

Seeing off for the SAF contingent to the multinational operation in Cyprus

A farewell ceremony was held today for the riffle platoon from the 246th CBRN Battalion leaving to the UNFICYP peacekeeping mission in the Republic of Cyprus in Krusevac barracks "Car Lazar". The ceremony was attended by Deputy Army Commander Major General Zelimir Glisovic, Head of the Peacekeeping Operations Centre Colonel Milivoje Pajovic, Mayor of Krusevac Dragi Nestorovic, representatives of local government, the clergy, and numerous relatives and friends.

As General Glisovic stressed that the Republic of Serbia has always been committed to the ideas and goals of the United Nations and is committed to maintaining peace and security in the world.
- With the present engagement beyond the borders of the Republic of Serbia in the international environment, the Serbian Armed Forces continues the tradition of participation in UN peacekeeping missions, which began in 1956 on Mount Sinai, and confirms the strong commitment of our country to contribute in a concrete way to the respect of the international law and order – General said, adding that 223 members of the Army are deployed in the areas of operations of the UN and the European Union.

According to him, as the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping missions in the region, with a significant increase in participation, "we have become an exporter of security".
- We are proud of the results that the Army members have achieved in this, and in peacekeeping missions around the world. Our soldiers are the best ambassadors of Serbian culture and tradition, and with their honourable, professional and dignified work, they best represent the character and work of members of the Serbian Armed Forces abroad - Deputy Army Commander said.

General Glisovic presented the state flag to platoon commander Captain Milos Stankovic. He thanked for the trust in him to lead our unit that

will represent Serbia in the peacekeeping mission in the Republic of Cyprus.
- I'm proud of all the members of the platoon, because we had intensive preparations for deployment in the missions, followed by several months of training for deployment in the specific mission in the Republic of Cyprus. Through their efforts and hard work, they all contributed to the platoon’s superior results during training and its excellent evaluation – Captain Stankovic said.

45 SAF members are leaving to the Republic of Cyprus in the framework of the ninth shift our units from the Army, which have been conducted in the republic since 2011 within the Hungarian-Slovakian contingent.