US NAVY SHIP VISITS MONTENEGRO
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Embassy of the United States of America
Podgorica
USS John L. Hall, a US Navy guided missile frigate, will be conducting a port visit to Bar, Montenegro from March 20 to 24 as part of the U.S.-Montenegro military partnership. During the visit to Montenegro, the Commanding Officer, Commander A. P. Bennet, and his 200 member crew will meet with their Montenegrin Navy counterparts and participate in a series of community related events with citizens of Bar.
The John L. Hall is one of the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigates that fulfill protection of shipping missions for amphibious expeditionary forces, underway replenishment groups and merchant convoys.
On March 21, the ship will officially welcome Montenegro's President Filip Vujanovic, Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, Foreign Minister Milan Rocen, Minister of Defense Boro Vucinic, and U.S. Ambassador to Montenegro Roderick W. Moore. Ambassador Moore and President Vujanovic will give statements to the press during this event. The media will then have the opportunity to observe joint training with Montenegrin and US personnel on board the USS John L. Hall. Journalists interested in covering the visit of the Montenegrin officials to the ship and the press availability with President Vujanovic and Ambassador Moore should send their names to Sasa Brajovic from the Embassy at (fax) 081 225 515 or phone 067 283 542 by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 20. Journalists will need to be on the pier in Bar no later than 07:30 on Friday, March 21. For further details, please contact Sasa Brajovic from the Embassy at 067 283 542
On the first day of the visit, Thursday March 20, Ambassador Moore and Commander Bennet will call on the mayor of Bar, Zarko Pavicevic. Journalists interested in participating in a photo opportunity should be at City Hall no later than 1300. Ambassador Moore and Commander Bennet will also visit the Bar hospital where the director and U.S. officials will make a short press statement. Media interested in covering this hospital visit should be there at 14:15 on March 20. For further details on the March 20th events, please contact Sasa Brajovic from the Embassy at 067 283 542
Community related projects also include visits to a primary and a secondary school and the Faculty of Tourism on March 21 as well as the events with local citizens and students on March 22. For detailed information about community related projects, please contact Samir Hadzic from the Bar Municipality at 069 582 377.
On Sunday, March 23, six sailors from the ship will play soccer with six Bar municipal employees at the indoor soccer field. The game begins at 1500. Journalists are invited to cover the event. Further details may be obtained from Stevo Nikocevic from the Bar Municipality at 069 069 003.