Defense Minister, Egypt's Ambassador on military cooperation

BELGRADE - Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic and Egyptian Ambassador to Serbia Menha Mahrous Bakhoum conferred Tuesday on the development of defense cooperation programs, and agreed that a bilateral defense cooperation agreement should be concluded as soon as possible in order to establish a legal framework for future joint projects.

Minister Gasic pointed out that continued work of mixed military committees is in the interest of both countries, as they allow exchange of opinions on the security situation, reform of the defense system and experiences gained in peacekeeping operations.

Gasic and Bakhoum agreed that the bilateral military cooperation can be promoted through a closer military-educational, military-medical and scientific-technical cooperation, Defense Ministry stated on its website.

Egypt's Ambassador thanked the ministry for inviting members of the Egyptian Armed Forces to participate in the CBRN training courses organized in Krusevac and the Peacekeeping Operations Center of the Serbian army.

Noting that Egypt's defense cooperation is far more developed with Serbia than with many larger high-income countries, Bakhoum stressed that Serbia is a significant future partner in the areas of military-economic and military-technical cooperation, in view of the prospects of joint development and production of unmanned aircrafts.

Photo Tanjug, N. Jovanovic (archive photo)