30.04.2019.

New Issue of “ODBRANA” published

May issue of the “Odbrana” (“Defense”) magazine is dedicated to two topics – the continuation of marking two decades of NATO aggression on the FRY and the Day of the Serbian Armed Forces.

What the 78 days under NATO bombs were like was shown at the exhibition of the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces “Defense 78”, opened on 17 April at the Museum of the City of Belgrade. An exhibition unique so far. The author is Dušan Jovović, and the co-authors are all units of the Serbian Armed Forces. A multimedia approach with video and printed materials, sculptural and artistic works, with added sounds, all represent a biography of an aggression. It was told in the way it was – a story about the courage, the victims, the injustice, the defiance, the suffery for the lives lost.

The shortest and bloodies borderline, the state border that stretches between us and the Republic of Albania is spoken about in two more texts in our magazine – first one about the 53 Border Battalion, and then about the film “War Stories from Košare”, a joint project of RTS and “Zastava Film”. These are the stories about Košare, about heroism, daring, patriotism and insolent youth, but also of the suffering of members of 53 Border Battalion that did not have reserve positions in 1998 and 1999.

A special addition of the “Defense” magazine speaks about those years. In the form of an interview, over 20 pages, the testimony of the war commander of the Third Army at the time, General Nebojša Pavković, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison in The Hague is given. Editor-in-chief of the “Defense” magazine, Dragana Marković spoke to General Pavković in a prison in Finland, where he is serving his sentence. The story is about crime and punishment – the criminal bombing of Serbia, which has not been punished, and of a convicted general who has accepted his sentence with dignity, because, as he pointed out, he was the leading man of that Army.

- I was at the top of that pyramid, I take full responsibility for everything that happened. That is why I underline that 99% of soldiers did not commit any crime. Those who did, received their deserved punishments.

The answer to the question where the power and strength of present day armed force lies, and on the occasion of the Day of the Serbian Armed Forces, can be found while reading a number of articles in this issue. First of all, it lies with those who are a step ahead of the others – in the Special Brigade of the Serbian Armed Forces and its members, the proud Red Berets, who are superbly physically prepared and combat and tactically trained to react in an instant, which is achieved through special training.

Then, in a quality telecommunications system and well trained communications officers. And 21 Communications Battalion, which was declared the best in the Land Forces two years ago, is a hothouse for yielding such non-commissioned personnel for the entire Land Forces.

The strength of the armed forces lies in the modern weaponry. In this issue, a new asset of our artillery – self-propelled howitzer 155 mm cannon NORA-B52 M15, which has recently been introduced in the Mixed Artillery Brigade's capabilities. They proudly announced this new arrival on 29 March at “Pasuljanske livade” training grounds during the initial live firing.

Successful armed forces also take pride in the good work of military medical veterans in both war and peace. Thirty-two members of the military medical personnel are of recent a part of the Balkan Medical Forces having represented the colors of our country at the military exercise “Vigorous Warrior 2019”, held in Romania. They participated with the light field hospital ROLE 2.

Members of the Serbian Armed Forces are proud of the significant results achieved by the military athletes, such as marathon runner, Captain Nevena Jovanović, who came third at the recently held Belgrade Marathon.

Writing for this issue of “Defense” Miroslav Lazanski said that the strength of an armed force lies not only in the weaponry and “tons of steel launched in a unit of time per unit of space” but in returning the armed force to itself – that we no longer educate defense managers, but officers and non-commissioned officers.
Armament is nevertheless important, especially when it is the product of domestic intelligence and industries, as our most profitable military industry capability in the world – self-propelled howitzer 155 mm cannon NORA-B52. We present a full story about the development of this system.

The History section is also dedicated to the Day of the Armed Forces. It is a reminiscence of the beginning of the Second Serbian Uprising, 23 April, which is celebrated as the Day of the Armed Forces.

We would like to recommend to the readers the text about the training of military police officers in the management of new and modern motorcycles for the special purpose of the German production BMW R 1250 RT-P, acquired in 2018, an interview with Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen, Director-General of the EU Military Staff, article on the Venezuelan hot spot, and a section of MMA medical advice, in which our well-known experts from this institution will provide medical advice.

CONTENTS

IN FOCUS
Exhibition “Defense 78”
Armed Forces have marked their day – POWER AND MIGHT OF SERBIA
Miroslav Lazanski – RETURNING ARMED FORCES TO ITSELF

POSITION
Košare– BATTALION THAT HAD NO RESRVE POSITIONS
War stories – ABOUT A BATTLE, A MOVIE AND IDENTITY
SYSTEM
In the Special Brigade of the Serbian Armed Forces – SPECIAL UPBRINGING
Training of Military Police – ESCORT DRIVING – FRAMEWORK OF SECURITY
“Vigorous Warrior 2019” – FEATS OF MEDICAL PERSONNEL IN THE FIELD
Demining and removal of unexploded ordnance – COVERT KILLERS
Communications Brigade of the Land Forces Command – HOTHOUSE OF NCOs
New capability at the Mixed Artillery Brigade – FIRING WAS FAST, PRECISE, EFFECTIVE

TECHNOLOGY
Self-propelled howitzer 155 mm cannon NORA-B52 – ALL ABOUT NORA

GLOBAL
Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen – A VIEW OF EUROPEAN SECURITY
Hot spots – GORDIAN KNOT OF VENEZUELA
THE WORLD IS CHANGING, BUT DO WE UNDERSTAND IT?

HISTORY – Second Serbian Uprising – FOUNDATIONS OF A MODERN ARMED FORCE

MEDICINE – Expert advice – SPRING FATIQUE

SPORT – New successes in military sports

You can buy magazine “ODBRANA” at “ŠTAMPA“ and “FUTURA PLUS“ news-stands and in “VOJNA KNJIGA” at 22 Vasina Street in Belgrade, at the price of RSD 100, and you may find a digital edition at the portal www.novinarnica.net.