Joint military exercise Srem 2014 begins

NIKINCI - Serbian and Russian troops started off a joint exercise entitled Srem 2014 at the training centre in Nikinci on Friday.

Serbia's Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic, diplomatic corps officials and reporters from Serbia and abroad were present for the start of the event, which will involve 404 members of the two countries' armed forces.

The goal of the exercise is to improve performance in anti-terrorist operations in a multinational missions.

Ilyushin 76 and MiG 29 airplanes, Mi 8, Mi 17 and Gazela helicopters, armoured personnel carriers and police armoured vehicles will take part in the exercise.

The troops will use live ammunition, as well as mortars, grenade launchers and long-range rifles.

The preparations for the exercise started in March this year, while the final pre-exercise training was held at the Batajnica airbase, on the outskirts of Belgrade, from November 7 to 13.

Photo Tanjug, N. Milosevic (illustration)