Serbian president visits Ohio

Courtesy Photo | Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (from left), meets with Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, Ohio adjutant general and Serbian President Boris Tadic, Sept. 21, at the Union Club in Cleveland. Tadic visited Ohio to further develop the nation's ongoing relationship with the Ohio National Guard that began in 2006 with the State Partnership Program.  

CLEVELAND, UNITED STATES

09.20.2009

Courtesy Story

Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

CLEVELAND, Ohio -The president of the Republic of Serbia arrived in downtown Cleveland, Sept. 20, to further develop the nation's ongoing relationship with Ohio that began in 2006 with the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

"The partnership with the Ohio National Guard is an important part of our partnership with the United States," President Boris Tadic said.

Tadic and Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic are heading the Serbian delegation at the 64th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York this week, but also scheduled this stop in Ohio to meet with Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, leaders from Ohio's business community and the National Guard.

In three years of partnership there have been more than 80 exchanges between Serbia and Ohio and Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, Ohio adjutant general, said he had no plans of slowing down.

"Cooperation has never been better," Wayt said. "It is very important that we continue missions with Serbian Soldiers."

Ohio National Guard Soldiers and Airmen enjoy interacting with not only Serbian Soldiers, but also Serbian citizens, and welcome more opportunities to conduct training missions together said Maj. Gen. Matthew L. Kambic, assistant adjutant general for Army.

"The state partnership program not only fosters familiarization and the sharing of best practices that benefit both military organizations," said Maj. Gen. Harry "A.J." Feucht, Ohio's assistant adjutant general for Air. "It also establishes a foundation upon which broader cooperation between the partners can be built."

"Meetings like those that occurred here today between the president and the governor and the business community, exploring new avenues of cooperation in education and business, are evidence of the broadening of Ohio's relationship with Serbia," Wayt said. "This partnership is the crown jewel, which means that it is setting the example for all state partnerships."

• Date Taken: 09.20.2009
• Date Posted: 09.22.2009 16:24
• Story ID: 39152
• Location: CLEVELAND, US