15.03.2016.
Signing of Bilateral Defence Cooperation Programme with Germany
Signing the 2016 Bilateral Defence Cooperation Programme for the first time rounded out the developed defence cooperation between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia and the Federal Ministry of Defence of Germany. The Programme was signed by the Head of the International Military Cooperation Department Navy Captain Milan Konjikovac and Defence Attaché of the Federal Republic of Germany in Belgrade, Lieutenant Colonel Ingo Gnoyke.Navy Captain Konjikovac stressed the openness for establishing of cooperation in new areas of mutual interest particularly emphasizing the military economic cooperation, in which they should find the room for improvement and creation of tangible results. He stressed the importance of continuity of the highest level meetings to confirm the importance and further development of cooperation, as well as regular staff talks and bilateral defence consultations to make the guidelines and directions of cooperation more concrete.
Lieutenant Colonel Gnoyke conveyed his interest in continued support of the Federal Ministry of Defence of Germany in the process of Serbia's European integration through support for the exchange and transfer of knowledge and experience regarding activities in the field of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy, EDA projects and the concept of the European Union Battle Groups.
The exchange of observers at military exercises, as well as possible joint exercises, will contribute to better professional familiarisation among the members of the two armies and the development of operational capabilities of the armed forces. Joint engagement of military medics in the mission in Mali, which gives a special quality to the cooperation, was rated as very successful, mutually beneficial and a guide to which direction the further improvement of relations can go.
