18.02.2009.

Press conference of Minister of Defense and SAF GS Chief

Press conference given by the Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac and the newly-appointed Chief of SAF GS LTG Miloje Miletic

The analysis of operational capabilities of SAF Army was held yesterday in Nis which was attended by the Defense Minister Dragabn Sutanovac and the newly-appointed Chief of SAF GS LTG MIloje Miletic.

The Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac pointed out that all segments of combat readiness had been improved in comparison to last year’s analysis, adding that unfortunately we still had not achieved the desired results in the fields of finance to accumulated problems in the past decades.

In analyzing last year, I also laid out the focal tasks, which the Ministry plans to carry out in the upcoming period. First of all, I am referring to the adoption of strategic documents-the Strategy of National Security, the Defense Strategy, Strategic Defense Review as the SAF Doctrine. Furthermore, we are planning to adopt the projects pertaining to the Law on work, military and material duties and the Act on Civil Service, which had already been passed through the Government and had been submitted to the parliament for review”, said Minister Sutanovac. Minister added that he expected the following Bills to be finalized: the Bills on the Civil Protection, on Agencies, Bills on the Production of Arms and Military equipment as well as the Bill on the Deployment of SAF and other forces in multinational operations beyond the borders of Serbia.

One of the primary tasks of MoD in this year, as Sutanovac stated, would be s strengthening of civil and democratic control thus keeping abreast with the latest challenges, risks and threats. He reminded that the European committee had commended the results achieved by MoD. He said that the process of professionalizing the army would continue as well as the process of equipping. However, as Minister mentioned the projected finalization of this process in 2010 would not be completed.

“Despite this, I have to point out that we are not giving up on this project. We have had 5000 candidates apply for 2400 posts for professional soldiers which bespeaks the vote of confidence SAF has gained.

As for the question regarding the deployment of our troops in peace operations is under consideration, yet that the final decision is made by the Parliament. Our office in Brussels would be opened mid 2009, which would enable us to be completely engaged in the Parliament.

As for improving the material status of SAF members, not only when it comes to salaries but when it comes to housing issues, this process would continue since the Minister announced that another 1000 members of SAF would get flats in the next year which h is there times higher than the number of people entering the defense system. He also added that some 1400 members of SAF got their flats.

We are also in the process of reforming the system of military education. We have established the method for advancement of military professionals at four levels starting this year and we have introduced a new course in security and defense. Such a course existed before. This course was attended by personnel from other ministries, that is, civil servants.

The realization of Master Plan will continue through sale of military property surplus.

Another priority would be solving the question of ordnance surplus and of that ordnance which had not been stored properly in order to avoid such situations as the explosion of Paracin ammo dump.

The Cepotina base is to be finished. Minister took this opportunity to point out that a new object where both the Ministry of Defense and the SAF GS would be stationed.

The media conference was also an opportunity for announce a number of promotional events, namely, the Dio=plomac exercise, promotional ceremony of Lieutenants, a large international air show in September and the combined-arms exercise “Pester 2009” as well as the international exercise in health care which would be important for promoting the interoperability of our armed forces.

In his first statement to the media after he was appointed as the new Chief of SAF GS LTG Miloje Miletic stressed: “We took this opportunity today to define the core tasks of the SAF and to implement the plans and tasks defined by program documents. We can divide these tasks in two groups: those which stem from the defined missions of SAF and the other group pertaining to the continuation if reform processes in SAF.

Part of reform tasks focus on developing the interoperability of SAF and in this respect we will strive after modernization of the training system, technical modernization and gradual professionalization. Technical modernization and professionalizing the army will predominantly depend on financing possibilities.

Serbia's top general added that the sphere of defining missions includes regular activities for securing the Ground Safety Zone and the administrative line close to Kosovo.

According to Mileti?, other major tasks include further development of the army capacities, including modernization of training procedures, technical modernization and gradual professionalization.