Defence Minister visiting Army units
Monday, 23.6.2014 | News
Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, accompanied by General Ljubisa Dikovic, Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Serbia, Lieutenant General Aleksandar Zivkovic, Army Commander, and Mayer of Leskovac Goran Cvetanovic, visited today members of the Army during their preparation on the self-operated automatized shooting ground “Medja” for participation in “Tank Biathlon” in Russia.
Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, accompanied by General Ljubisa Dikovic, Head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Serbia, Lieutenant General Aleksandar Zivkovic, Army Commander, and Mayer of Leskovac Goran Cvetanovic, visited today members of the Army during their preparation on the self-operated automatized shooting ground “Medja” for participation in “Tank Biathlon” in Russia.
- Today, we had the opportunity to witness the capability of tank units of the Armed Forces of Serbia and I expect us to win the competition in Russia. The Chief of the General Staff and I are assured of the high level of training of our units and of the fact that, in all missions of the SAF, we gain great experience, whether competing in international competitions, during peacekeeping operations or rescuing citizens of Serbia from the floods. It has been shown that the Serbian Armed Forces are a powerful and well-organized system – Minister Gasic said. He added that the Armed Forces of Serbia have equipped the training ground “Medja” with their capacities, in order to check combat readiness and preparedness of tank units. He also announced that a rampart will be set up on the road to Medja village, 500m long and 8m high, in order to have a broader specter of activities on the training ground.
Preparations for the tank biathlon started immediately after accepting the invite from the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation and building and arrangement of tactical and sports track in accordance with propositions of the competition. Eight of the best crews will represent the Armed Forces of Serbia on the tank biathlon where 13 countries so far have confirmed their participation. The second stage of preparations of the selected tank crews will last until July 17 when departure for Russia is planned. The final competition will be held August 4 – 8 at the “Alabino” training ground in Moscow area, which overlaps with Minister Gasic’s official visit to Russia.
In further course of his visit to units of the Army, Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic visited renovated objects in the part of Nis barracks “Stevan Sindjelic” that had been destroyed during the bombing in 1999. Commander of the 3rd Land Force Brigade Zelimir Glisovic briefed Minister on renovation of the technical workshop, telecommunication means workshop, hangars and depots where members of the Maintenance Company of the 39th Logistic Battalion of the Third Brigade will be accomodated.
After the tour, Gasic pointed out that the Armed Forces of Serbia, with their forces and little financial means of around 800,000 RSD, have managed to build the facilities and make them functional.
- Here, we enlarged capacities and secured for our motorized vehicles to be repaired much more quickly and to be returned to the units. I can announce that we are about to organize many our facilities across Serbia the same way and make them functional in the next period, and thus return to the Armed Forces of Serbia the old glory which has been lost in the past period – Defence Minister stated.
At the end of the visit to formations of the Army, Bratislav Gasic also visited the Military Swimming Pool “Vrezina” which, according to him, represents an example of how objects once representative can be preserved.
“I am happy to announce that, in agreement with the Head of the General Staff and the Army Commander, we have decided to give annual tickets for using the pool of the Serbian Armed Forces to children of killed members of the SAF, Police and Military Police, wounded members of the SAF, high school students with excellent marks and college students with an average score over 9.0.”
- Today, we had the opportunity to witness the capability of tank units of the Armed Forces of Serbia and I expect us to win the competition in Russia. The Chief of the General Staff and I are assured of the high level of training of our units and of the fact that, in all missions of the SAF, we gain great experience, whether competing in international competitions, during peacekeeping operations or rescuing citizens of Serbia from the floods. It has been shown that the Serbian Armed Forces are a powerful and well-organized system – Minister Gasic said. He added that the Armed Forces of Serbia have equipped the training ground “Medja” with their capacities, in order to check combat readiness and preparedness of tank units. He also announced that a rampart will be set up on the road to Medja village, 500m long and 8m high, in order to have a broader specter of activities on the training ground.
Preparations for the tank biathlon started immediately after accepting the invite from the Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation and building and arrangement of tactical and sports track in accordance with propositions of the competition. Eight of the best crews will represent the Armed Forces of Serbia on the tank biathlon where 13 countries so far have confirmed their participation. The second stage of preparations of the selected tank crews will last until July 17 when departure for Russia is planned. The final competition will be held August 4 – 8 at the “Alabino” training ground in Moscow area, which overlaps with Minister Gasic’s official visit to Russia.
In further course of his visit to units of the Army, Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic visited renovated objects in the part of Nis barracks “Stevan Sindjelic” that had been destroyed during the bombing in 1999. Commander of the 3rd Land Force Brigade Zelimir Glisovic briefed Minister on renovation of the technical workshop, telecommunication means workshop, hangars and depots where members of the Maintenance Company of the 39th Logistic Battalion of the Third Brigade will be accomodated.
After the tour, Gasic pointed out that the Armed Forces of Serbia, with their forces and little financial means of around 800,000 RSD, have managed to build the facilities and make them functional.
- Here, we enlarged capacities and secured for our motorized vehicles to be repaired much more quickly and to be returned to the units. I can announce that we are about to organize many our facilities across Serbia the same way and make them functional in the next period, and thus return to the Armed Forces of Serbia the old glory which has been lost in the past period – Defence Minister stated.
At the end of the visit to formations of the Army, Bratislav Gasic also visited the Military Swimming Pool “Vrezina” which, according to him, represents an example of how objects once representative can be preserved.
“I am happy to announce that, in agreement with the Head of the General Staff and the Army Commander, we have decided to give annual tickets for using the pool of the Serbian Armed Forces to children of killed members of the SAF, Police and Military Police, wounded members of the SAF, high school students with excellent marks and college students with an average score over 9.0.”
