The seven-member medical team of the Army of the Republic of Serbia will go to the Central African Republic next week, where they will join the training mission of the European Union and provide medical assistance and support in the implementation of this mission. On this occasion, the EU Ambassador to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret ceremonially sent off the members of the Serbian contingent to the Central African Republic, together with the hosts, Lieutenant General Želimir Glišović, head of the Operational Directorate (J-3) and Colonel Mirjana Milenković, head of the Center for Peace Operations, today at the Centre for Peace Operations of the Serbian Armed Forces.
The Army of the Republic of Serbia is currently participating in three peacekeeping missions and operations of the European Union. These are: the training missions in Somalia (EUTM SOMALIA) and the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA) with medical teams and medical advisors; operation EUNAVFOR SOMALIA ATALANTA with staff officers; in the operation piece in Rota (Spain), as a staff officer on the command ship (in the Gulf of Aden); and upon request with the World Food Program (WFP) Autonomous Ship Protection Team.
Head of the Operational Directorate (J-3), Lieutenant General Želimir Glišović emphasized the determination of the Republic of Serbia for cooperation and contribution to world peace and stability. Centre for Peace Operations plays an important role in this respect, as it selects, trains, prepares and sends individuals and units from the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Army to multinational operations outside the borders of Serbia.
EU Ambassador to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret thanked the hosts and the Army of the Republic of Serbia for the reliable and long-term partnership with the EU in the common foreign and security policy, especially emphasizing the professionalism of the Serbian soldiers.
“We are proud of the cooperation with Serbia in EU missions and operations. We especially appreciate the knowledge, dedication and demonstrated capacity for integration and interoperability of members of the Serbian Armed Forces in a multinational environment. The personnel of our missions are in the safe hands of the military medical staff from Serbia,” emphasized Ambassador Giaufret.
Around 5,000 EU military and civilian personnel are currently deployed in missions and operations of the EU’s common foreign and security policy on three continents, working for a more stable world and contributing to a safer Europe. The most recent missions and operations support security in the Central African Republic, enforcement of the United Nations arms embargo on Libya in the Mediterranean Sea, and prevention of piracy near the Horn of Africa.
