“SEESIM 10” Exercise

This is a computer-aided exercise that is conducted every two years since 2000, in which participate member countries of the South Eastern Europe Defence Ministerial Initiative (SEDM). The aim of exercise is to develop, standardize and train national and regional responds to accidents and disasters, to promote regional security, stability, peace, transparency and build mutual trust, and to develop national simulation capabilities and national civil-military capacities. Support to the “SEESIM 10” exercise has been provided by the U.S. and Sweden.

All participating countries during exercise, from 17 to 26 October, have been linked through various communication systems, with the main command post in Tirana for this year’s exercise. National command posts, where each country has formed a crisis operational headquarter are located in capitals of participating countries: Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine. The task of each headquarter, composed of members of government agencies responsible for responding to emergencies, either individually or together with other headquarters, is responding to a variety of simulated incidents caused by natural disasters or human activity. In Croatia, the headquarter consist of members of the Defence Ministry and Croatian Armed Forces, Ministry of Interior, State Directorate for Protection and Rescue, and other organizations. Simulated incidents were related to the terrorist attack on chemical plant in Kutina, and spills of hazardous substances into the Neretva River.

Besides MOD Secretary of State Pjer Simunovic, the distinguished guests’ day also was also attended by the Commander of Training and Doctrine Command Brigadier General Ivan Juric and other senior officials of Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, and other government departments and representatives of military-diplomatic corps.

Director of the Croatian part of exercise Colonel Tomica Sabolic and site manager Colonel Radovan Palmovic presented the exercise. The exercise in Croatia was organized by the MOD Defence Policy and Planning Department, while the technical support was given by the Training and Doctrine Command.

In his opening speech, State Secretary Simunovic said that Croatia is an active SEDM member, which value for the security and stability of the Southeastern Europe was clearly recognized. State Secretary described SEESIM exercise as extremely useful at the local and regional level.