BELGRADE, Serbia - A Public Affairs Mobile Training Team from Allied Joint Force Command Naples conducted a seminar in Belgrade, Serbia, May 24-27, 2016.
The training, which took place at the Military Club in the city center of Belgrade, focused on a variety of public affairs topics, such as news releases, crisis management, interviews, press conferences and developing plans for exercises.
The two-man JFC Naples MTT instructed an audience composed of Serbian military officers and public affairs professionals from the Serbian Ministry of Defence.
The MTT visit kicked off with a welcome from Serbian Navy Captain Petar Bošković, head of the public relations department at the Serbian MoD.
Serbian Colonel Nebojša Svjetlica, participant in the course and head of the division for Multilateral Cooperation at the Serbian MoD, said MTT visits are the best way to train and educate people because it allows more personnel the opportunity to attend the seminars.
"The MTT are subject matter experts with a lot of experiences,” said Col. Svjetlica. "It’s more than just opening a handbook, and all the people here have some good feedback about the event.”
Iva Kostović-Nikoliš, a course participant and public relations manager at the Serbian MoD, said the training helped both beginners and advanced professionals in the public affairs fields.
"The training expanded their basic knowledge and gave them more,” Kostović-Nikoliš said. "Their knowledge isn’t basic anymore.”
The training was augmented with a pair of translators that helped bridge any possible communication gaps or misunderstandings.
Greek Army Colonel Nikolaos Triantafyllou, deputy chief and senior advisor, NATO Military Liaison Office Belgrade, also presented the students with an overview of the NATO MLO functions.
MLO Belgrade serves to facilitate Serbian cooperation with NATO under the Partnership for Peace program, which is slated to celebrate its 10th anniversary this year.
Story and photos by JFC Naples Public Affairs Office