U.S. National Guard funds refurbishing of two facilities

U.S. National Guard funds refurbishing of two facilities

Gasic and Kirby voiced satisfaction with the cooperation established between the Serbian Army (VS) and the Ohio National Guard, and announced plans for more joint projects.

"Humanitarian assistance is just one of the projects planned as part of the bilateral military cooperation between the Serbian army and the National Guard of Ohio,“ said Gasic, thanking Kirby for his support to the reconstruction of the kindergarten and the music school in Bujanovac.

Kirby said that the reconstruction of the two facilities shows teamwork, and added that more joint projects with the VS will be carried out.

Working on the reconstruction of the two facilities in Bujanovac were 40 members of Ohio National Guard and 40 VS soldiers.

Bratislav Gasic and Michael Kirby also visited on Thursday the reception center for migrants in Presevo, southern Serbia, whereup to 2,000 migrants arrive every day.

The U.S. diplomat told reporters that the migrants he talked to said that they felt comfortable and welcome in Serbia. He added that the United States will try to help the UNHCR and the migrants in the country.

The U.S. ambassador said that he was happy to hear about the EU's plan to provide financial assistance to Serbia, adding that he hopes and believes that the country will receive support from other sources as well.

Asked to comment on the plans concerning a new reception center for migrants in Belgrade, Gasic said that the government will live up to its promise and open a reception center for some 1,000 to 2,000 migrants.

Gasic noted that Serbia requires significant financial aid to fund the provision of food, medicines and hygiene products to migrants.

"Serbia is free country"

Serbia is a free country and it can cooperate with whomever it wants, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Michael Kirby has said.

Asked by reporters to comment on EU's criticism of a military exercise Serbia and Russia will hold together, Kirby said that Washington supported efforts to organize joint military exercises, pointing out that joint exercises had also been organized by the Serbian military and U.S. forces.

He also pointed to cooperation between the U.S. and Serbian armed forces at the Jug (South) military base in southern Serbia, where much has been done to help prepare Serbian units for taking part in peacekeeping missions.

Serbia is free and it can cooperate with whoever it thinks it should cooperate with, said Kirby.