27.10.2016.
Bilateral meetings of General Draganic in the USA
Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic, visited yesterday the US National Defense University (NDU), where he discussed with President of the NDU, Major General Frederick Padilla, the military educational cooperation between the two countries.The two generals assessed that the military educational cooperation between Serbia and the United States is more than successful. Noting that members of the Serbian Armed Forces attended a number of different forms of education at military educational institutions in the United States, General Draganic expressed hope that the military educational cooperation will be further enhanced, encouraging the US side to consider sending its officers to study at our University of Defence. Deputy Chief of General Staff invited General Padilla to visit the Republic of Serbia and the University of Defence.
General Padilla pointed out that the NDU was enriched by the presence of officers of the Serbian Armed Forces, whom he assessed as extremely capable and qualified, adding that the international exchange of experience and a large number of officers who are studying at the NDU is of great benefit for both the US officers, and for foreign students.
During his visit to Washington, General Draganic visited the Pentagon, where he met with Major General Richard Clarke, Vice Director for Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5) of the Joint Staff of the US Armed Forces, and General Joseph Lengyel, Chief of the US National Guard Bureau.
General Draganic discussed with General Clark the results of military-to-military cooperation between the two countries and expressed hope that the upward trend of bilateral military cooperation will continue. Deputy Chief of General Staff informed his interlocutor about the engagement of the Serbian Armed Forces members in peacekeeping operations, as well as the Serbian contribution to the global coalition against Islamic State countering terrorism, General Draganic said that the return of ‘foreign fighters’ from the battlefield in Syria and Iraq to the territory of Kosovo and Metohija, but also to the countries of the region is a threat to the security of Serbia and the neighbouring countries. He pointed out that Serbia will continue to develop its capacities and cooperate with all organizations and countries in combating security challenges and threats, within their own capabilities and be a guarantor of security and stability in the entire region.
General Clark agreed with General Draganic that the current security threats, especially those that come from the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations are extremely serious and assessed that only through joint efforts they can be suppressed and controlled.During the meeting at the US National Guard Bureau, generals Draganic and Lengjel assessed that cooperation between Serbia and Ohio was extremely successful. Recalling the results of the previous joint projects, General Draganic presented the vision and plans for continued cooperation and invited General Lengjel to visit Serbia next year, which he gladly accepted.
Chief of the National Guard Bureau said that the cooperation between Serbia and Ohio as part of the State Partnership Programme is among the best ones compared to more than 60 partnership cooperation programmes that the US Armed Forces have with other countries. He especially emphasized that a friendly relationship of members of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ohio National Guard represents an excellent basis for further improvement of cooperation.During the visit to the United States, the delegation of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces is staying in Ohio, where they will continue with the activities marking 10 years of cooperation between Serbia and Ohio.
Deputy Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Jovica Draganic, is leading the delegation of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces on a return visit to the United States from 25 to 30 October.
