PREPARATORY CONFERENCE FOR NATO EXERCISE "JOINT EFFORT 2009" STARTED

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (November 19,2008) - Around 150 participants from 40 countries have gathered in Sarajevo yesterday at the beginning of the seven-day Concept plan conference for NATO exercise “Joint Effort 2009”.

The exercise "Joint Effort" will take place in September next year in Bosnia.

"This is the first time that this exercise takes place in a country which is not a full member of the NATO and therefore the significance that is being given to Bosnia is even on the higher level; Marina Pendes, the Bosnian Deputy Minister of Defence said at the press-conference. She also held an introductory speech at the Conference.

By holding the preparation conferences and exercises, Bosnia started the full implementation of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), which envisages the activities and all details when it comes to the armed forces of the countries participants in this exercise; Pendes pointed out.

Director of the exercise, Colonel Rick Dollesin from US Command for Europe said that in military and tactical terms these are communication exercises and their main goal is first of all to practice the communication systems.

Dollesen said that this is going to be one of the biggest exercises in the world of communications and interoperability.

The Bosnian Army is fully prepared to handle these challenges and the exercise will be prepared well; Deputy Commander of the Bosnian Army Joint Staff,General Slavko Puljic said.
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