Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
 
01.03.2009.

Minister on peace operations



The Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac stated today that the Draft Act on SAF Deployment had been submitted to the Government. “Participation of SAF members in UN peace missions is not solely the interest of the defense system, rather it is in the best interest of the state which is focused on strengthening our foreign policy capacities”, said Sutanovac in his interview to TANJUG news agency.

The Minister pointed out that “the majority of critics supported Josip Broz Tito while forgetting that during one year alone some 1700 soldiers alternated on Mount Sinai:”, and that the former Yugoslavia had the largest capacity in foreign policy in the history of its existence.

"If we had taken greater part in peace operations in the previous period, I believe that the history of Serbia would have greatly changed.

He stated that last year the members of the medical team from the Military Medical Academy had received a certificate for peace operations and that one team was in Norway already.

The minister made sure to point out that the members of our system “will be ready to take part in peace operations this year in line with the decisions of the authorities”.

Recalling the activities within PfP, Sutanovac stated that Serbia had not yet opened its office with NATO nor has it established its mission expressing his wish expectation that this mission would be opened this year.

“That is not the problem solely of MoD, it is a problem of both the Ministry of Foreign and the Ministry of Defense.

As TANJUG reports, Minister reminded the public that in October last year the Information Security Agreement was signed last year with NATO after which, with some technical difficulties, the process of opening the mission was initiated.

In his words, we aim as all other countries which are not member states of NATO but have missions there is to represent the interests of Serbia, its defense system and to participate in the work of numerous specialized committees within the Alliance.

As for the relations between Serbia and NATO, whose military intervention against Yugoslavia and Serbia started in March ten years ago, Serbia said that “it was a tragic day for Serbia, when NATO embarked on an action, no one in Serbia can find justification for.”

"However, regardless of the sad memories these events bring to mind, we have to look ahead …it is unilateral that we are slower developing good relations with NATO than between UK and Germany after WWII.

The Minister clearly voiced that obviously Serbia had some reservations when it comes to the Alliance, but that he is certain that the majority of SAF members believe that we should be part of these integrations.

He said that he believed that the predominant opinion was that we should exchange experiences, knowledge and skills and to practice together with the members of the alliance one of the largest and most powerful defense systems in the world.

On occasion of 100 years of aviation in Serbia, a magnificent air show would be organized, as minister announced, for promoting air force.

It is our goal to present to the media that these armies and their air forces were not enemies and that is a big step forward in correcting those relations which should be on legal foundation in XXI century.
 
MOD
Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia, Bircaninova 5 street, Belgrade
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