25.02.2016.

Ski training of British soldiers on Kopaonik

Within the framework of bilateral military cooperation between the Republic of Serbia and the United Kingdom, a group of officers and non-commissioned officers of the British Army have been conducting training in skiing on Kopaonik this week.

- This is for the first time that colleagues from the UK are conducting ski training in Serbia, as opposed to the practice so far to go to Switzerland or France, Colonel Danijel Stojkovic from the Army Command says, adding that the Serbian Armed Forces, in order to provide support in the implementation of training, engaged two instructors who are also the hosts to the colleagues from the United Kingdom.

- It is an opportunity to exchange experiences in performing this type of training, Colonel Stojkovic says.

One of the British officers who are staying on Kopaonik is Nikola Ilic, born in Britain, whose father is originally from Srpska Krajina. Speaking about his impressions from Kopaonik, he points out that they are absolutely satisfied with the conditions for conducting training on the snow-covered mountain.

- Every year, our officers and NCOs have the opportunity to practice skiing, "kayaking" or other sports. When it comes to skiing, we have so far carried it out in France, Austria and Switzerland, says Colonel Ilic, who has been coming to Serbia to skiing with his family for years.

- I know that there are excellent conditions for the Serbian Armed Forces, so we decided that this year our officers from the General Staff and the Army Department for Telecommunications and Information Technology, come to Kopaonik for training. I admit it was my idea and I am glad that this is another example of good cooperation between the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom and the Serbian Armed Forces, whose officers are providing us with the necessary assistance and instructions and suggest the best routes for skiing, British Army Colonel Ilic says. He adds that they took with them also their instructors, who conduct training at three levels – for beginners, for those who know how to ski, while the third level is "ski touring" special training for lowering and climbing on skis.

The guests from the UK, 32 of them, who arrived to our country on 20th February, and are to travel home tomorrow, were visited at the training by Chief of Intelligence and Reconnaissance Operations Department of the General Staff, Brigadier General Ilija Todorov.