OSCE Mission to Serbia, Military Academy in Belgrade hold seminar on reforming military education

BELGRADE, 14 October 2009 - A three-day seminar on reforming higher military education and enabling an exchange of professional experience with military experts from the Czech Republic ended in Belgrade today.

The event, organized by the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Military Academy in Belgrade with financial support from the Czech Government, was attended by around 50 officers, lecturers and Military Academy students.

"The Military Academy is a primary institution for carrying out reform of military education, which is a strategic segment of security sector reform in Serbia. The exchange of experience with foreign countries is a very important aspect of this process. The OSCE Mission to Serbia is pleased to support such efforts," said Daiana Falloni, the head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Democratization Department.

Rufolf Urban, a Czech Defence University Professor, added: "It is important and necessary for both students and teachers to gain experience in working in multinational military staff environments, as well as in establishing and developing friendly contacts among nations."

The event is the first in a series of the three seminars that will be held by in Belgrade by the end of the year.