Afghanistan: Meeting of the MoD and AFMNE Delegation with Brigadier General Bodemann, Brigadier Sebastian and Minister Fon der Lajen

During the actual visit to the V Montenegrin contingent in Afghanistan the delegation of the MoD and AF which is led by the Chief of Defence of the AFMNE Admiral Dragan Samardzić  and Director of the Defence Policy Directorate Ivan Mašulović PhD met with the Commander of the Training, Advising and Assisting Command – North (TAAC – N), Brigadier General André Bodemann.

General Bodemann expressed the gratitude for consistent contribution that Montenegro provides in achieving the goals of the “Resolute Support” mission and in defending the common values of the Allies.

"You may be extremely proud on your solders, on their professionalism and dedication during the while executing the complex tasks” stressed the General Bodemann during the meeting with the Chief of Defence.

Admiral Samardžić  and  Mašulović  expressed regret over the civil victims of the terrorist act in Berlin, stressing that the character of such and similar senseless terroristic attacks is very hard to predict and for this is necessary the cooperation of all states at the global level in order to suppress and fight against terrorism.

During the meeting it is discussed about the security situation in Afghanistan and the contribution that the Allies and coalition forces give on building the peace and security in Afghanistan.

The members of the delegation met also the commander of the Croatian contingent, Brigadier Dražen Sebastian in whose composition is the Montenegrin Platoon for protection of the forces that performs the tasks.

Brigadier Sebastijan spoke very positively about the cooperation with our contingent and its commander, Captain Goran Vuković, emphasising that our solders all tasks perform with devotion and successfully and there weren’t any problem in functioning of the unit which characterises the high level of unity and trust.

Members of the delegation during the visit have visited the memorial and paid tribute to the Sergeant Major I Class Mijailo Perišić, who due to health problems died on 10 October 2011 in Afghanistan as a member of IV contingent in ISAF mission.

Delegation together with the members of the contingent visited the New Year Bazar which is traditionally held on the eve of the Christmas at the base, on the initiative of the Ministry of Defence of the FR Germany. The Minister of Defence of the Federal republic of Germany, Ursula Fon der Lajen who is staying in the visit in Afghanistan addressed to the participants of the mission, she thanked them on contribution to the security in Afghanistan and felicitated the forthcoming holidays.

Admiral Samardžić and Mašulović PhD, during the short talking with Fon der Lajen thanked the FR Germany on support and conveyed the greetings of the Minister of Defence of Montenegro. The German Minister stressed that she is happy for the upcoming full-fledged membership of Montenegro into NATO and that the Federal Republic of Germany will continue with strong support to Montenegro on its path of Europe and Euro- Atlantic integrations.