http://www.eucom.mil/english/fullstory.asp?article=Ohio-Guard-hosts-bilateral-consultation-Serbia
U.S. European Command October 21, 2010 Ohio Guard hosts bilateral defense consultation with partner Serbia Oct 21, 2010 Lt. Kimberly D. Snow, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs Office COLUMBUS, Ohio: One week after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised the Ohio National Guard’s partnership with the Serbian military, the Ohio Guard hosted a bilateral defense consultation Oct. 18 at its joint force headquarters in northwest Columbus. “We have this unique relationship between the Serbian military and the Ohio National Guard, which is a real model,” Clinton said according to an interview transcript on the state department web site. Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, the Ohio adjutant general, hosted Serbian and U.S. defense delegations in the state capitol in part to review the previous year’s cooperative events, but mainly to plan for the future. In recent meetings with Serbian officials, including President Boris Tadic and Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac, Wayt said discussions have centered on moving past familiarization to conduct more small unit exchanges and collaborate in Partnership for Peace exercises. “Quite frankly, where we all agree is, we want to get more involved in exercises together versus briefings,” Wayt said. .... The Ohio National Guard and Serbian military have worked very closely together through the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program – a part of the larger NATO Partnership for Peace program – since they first partnered more than four years ago. In 2011, the Ohio Guard and Serbian military partnership activities will comprise by far the greatest single percentage of activities among the U.S. and Serbia in the Partnership for Peace program, at 44 percent. .... Dr. Joseph McMillan, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs and leader of the U.S. delegation, applauded Serbian cooperative efforts within the State Partnership Program, especially considering the partners’ unique challenges. He also spoke of the “political courage” demonstrated by Serbia at a time when popular support might have waned. .... Jeftic said the focus for 2011 is the opening of a new base in southern Serbia. The delegation visited Ohio’s Camp Ravenna Joint Military Training Center Oct. 18 and has been working closely with an Ohio delegation to gather expertise and knowledge aimed at developing the camp as a base from which the Serbian military can stage and deploy in support of peacekeeping missions. The final phase in military to military cooperation – a joint peacekeeping operation – looms near, Jeftic said. Since the Ohio National Guard first partnered with Serbia in September 2006, that relationship has grown steadily, despite periods in which larger political issues may have impeded U.S.-Serbian relations, Wayt said. ....
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