06.06.2017.
Meeting of the Minister of Defence with the Commander of the National Guard of Ohio
The Minister of Defence, Zoran Đorđević met today with the Commander of the National Guard of Ohio, General Major Mark Bartman. Đorđević and Bartman expressed their satisfaction with the positive effects of the cooperation between the Serbian Armed Forces and the National Guard of Ohio, which contributed to the enhancement of the operational and functional capabilities of the armed forces of the two countries. They agreed that the State Partnership Programme between the Republic of Serbia and the Federal State of Ohio represented a mechanism that was at the forefront of the development of interstate relations between Serbia and USA.
The examples of the most significant activities that were mentioned were joint exercises and training, enhancement of the capacities of the Training centre for the participation of units in multinational operations in the “South” Base and joint medical engagement that is going to be carried out on trilateral basis in Angola during this year.
The Minister of Defence proposed improving the cooperation in the framework of the State Partnership Programme in line with mutual interests with the stress being placed on long-term benefits. He informed his interlocutor about current politico-security situation in the region and the measures taken in Serbia when it comes to the migratory crisis.
The Commander of the National Guard of Ohio underscored the readiness for further deepening of relations stressing that the units he commanded have the capacities, mindful of the agreements reached by the two sides, to contribute to the implementation of projects that had positively resounded in the Republic of Serbia in the past.
During the traditional visit to Serbia, the Commander of the National Guard of Ohio also met with the Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Armed Forces, while the plans also envisage the talks in the Military Health Department of the Ministry of Defence, and the visit to the 98th Air Force and Air Defence Brigade, the CBRN Training Centre and the towns of Kraljevo and Kruševac.
