19.11.2021.
International certificates in demining awarded
Today, ten instructors of explosive ordnance and UXO disposal from the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and the Demining Centre received internationally recognized certificates, which were handed to them by the Acting Assistant Minister for Defence Policy Predrag Bandić and the EU Ambassador to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret at the premises of the Demining Centre in Grocka.
The instructor training course is part of the 600.000 euro project entitled “Improving the capabilities of the Republic of Serbia in the field of demining and UXO destruction”, which is being carried out as part of the cooperation between the Demining Centre and the Ministry of Defence, with the financial support of the EU Delegation to Serbia.Addressing the gathering, Predrag Bandić expressed deep respect for the deminers who provide safety to the citizens of Serbia by performing risky work, and said that the training that the instructors received is specific and difficult. He also thanked the EU for its support in this project.
"We are happy to witness the completion of the first phase of this project. Serbian territory is contaminated with mines from various periods, which threaten the safety of citizens. Our deminers have reached this level of training for the first time. We thank the EU for its assistance in the field of floods, epidemics and now in this domain, which benefits the citizens of Serbia. We are happy to see that our instructors’ efforts in this area have shown results", said Bandić.
Serbia is committed to completing demining operations in order to protect its residents, and with this project, our country and the European Union continue to intensify cooperation in the Common Security and Defence Policy, which was confirmed by Ambassador Giaufret."Thanks to this EU-funded project, ten course participants from the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces and the Demining Centre will be rewarded for increasing their capacities in humanitarian demining. This project strengthens cooperation in the Common Security and Defence Policy and the harmonization of Serbia with International Mine Action Standards. Serbia is the EU’s valuable partner in security and defence policy. Serbia and the EU share the same history, culture and we firmly believe - the same future. The EU wants Serbia to be part of its family - for us, the accession of Serbia and the Western Balkans to the EU has no alternative," said Ambassador Giaufret.
The Director of the Demining Center, Bojan Glamočlija, also addressed the gathering, pointing out the problems regarding the minefields in Serbia and thanked the EU for its help, hoping that the cooperation would continue.At today’s certificate award ceremony, the guests had the opportunity to see a mock demining exercise.
