Defense minister tours Ground Safety Zone

Defense minister tours Ground Safety Zone

Members of the Serbian Army stationed in the Ground Safety Zone (GSZ) execute their tasks with full commitment in the toughest of conditions, Gašić said after touring the area, Tanjug reported.

The zone located along the administrative line between Kosovo and central serbia.

Asked by reporters whether the purpose of Base South (Jug) near Bujanovac "will be altered to provide training for an international mission," Gašić responded in the negative and said that the Serbian Army and the Ministry of Defense will continue to invest in the base.

The minister did not wish comment on his thought about about the possible formation of a Kosovo army.

"What is certain is that the Serbian army will in the coming period carry out at a maximum high level everything that the state and the government of Serbia entrust it with," Gašić said instead. The cooperation between the Serbian Army and the Ohio National Guard at a multinational operations training centre demonstrates the high level of education received by Serbian military officers, he also said.

The defense minister on Wednesday toured Base South, the Dobrosin base and the Taslak outpost with Serbian Army Chief of General Staff Gen. Ljubisa Diković and members of the Collegium of the Chief of General Staff.

Brigade and special battalion commanders gave Gašić a presentation of the training centre, while Gen. Diković handed a certificate of appreciation to Ohio National Guard Col. Dean Brown for the successful cooperation between the Serbian and U.S. armed forces.

The defense minister attended demonstrations of the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) and Serbian Army response scenarios in cases of attacks against patrols or bases in the Ground Safety Zone.