28.05.2013.

Handover of multipurpose vehicles in TRZ Cacak

Vice president and Defence Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Army Chief of Serbian General Ljubisa Dikovic attended the handover multipurpose vehicles HMMWV in TRZ Cacak'''', a donation of the United States Government to SAF. The handover ceremony was attended by U.S. Ambassador Michael Kirby, director of TRZ "Cacak" Colonel Goran Marjanovic, as well as the representatives of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces.

Thanking to the U.S. government for 850 thousand dollar worth donation, Minister Vucic said that with four vehicles received so far and during the last year a total of 17 vehicles have been received.

- We are preparing vehicles for training center in the JUG base and for participation in peacekeeping operations. Serbia is thus raising its reputation and the reputation of our army in the world. It is a program run by the State Department and the Pentagon and I hope you will continue to allocate grants for Serbia, which the US allocate for al friendly countries - said the Minister Vucic, expressing confidence that it will be an additional impetus to the regional center in the Jug base because it is expected to become a large and important center not only for the training of Serbian military, but it will also have regional and international dimension.

According to him, these vehicles can ensure the top level of preparedness saying that Serbia wants to be and really is a reliable partner in the world.

-Serbia holds up to its obligations and it does not deceive anyone and will do never so. Serbia will have a powerful army that will be the guarantor of peace and stability in the region and in this part of Europe - said Minister Vucic.

Speaking about the importance of today's meeting, Ambassador Kirby expressed his satisfaction for the opportunity to talk with Minister Vucic and to visit TRZ "Cacak".

- We are proud of the cooperation that we have with the Ministry of Defence and the donation we have made, however, much more is happening in the field of cooperation between our countries - emphasizing that during today's visit he saw numerous combat vehicles painted white as a sign that Serbia wants to continue participated in numerous missions under UN auspices. He added that the U.S. government was really glad to see that Serbia had been striving to contribute to stability and peace in the world and the region by taking part in these missions.

Furthermore, as ambassador stated he looked forward to continuing cooperation with the Ministry of Defence to develop the capacity of the "Jug" base which, they hope, would become a regional training center.