Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
 
06.07.2009.

Minister's interview to Press



Bad luck has taken hold of this Government

It is realistic assumption that this Government will remain in power till the end of its term. We managed to overcome the economic crisis and the problems none of the previous governments had to face, which also caused the fall of other governments, as Dragan Sutanovac said for Press daily.

In his interview to Press, the Government just seemed out of luck, as the minister stated. Due to the effects of the economic crisis and still unforeseeable unfortunate circumstances, this government could not focus on fulfilling the promises it had made during the election campaign. We are trying to mitigate the effects of the crisis, and to try to deliver on our promises.

How would you rate the Government’s work in its first year?

- Let the citizens rate the government, we are here for them, anyway.

Who was the best and the worst minister, in your opinion?

- Prime Minister Cvetkovic was the one who proposed us for the posts, and it is up to him to give his assessment of our work. Of course, the citizens have their right to evaluate our work.

And are you satisfied with PM’s work?

- PM Cvetkovic is not a politician, but an expert. He does not meddle into politics, marketing, but he does his work. He does his work well and is a good coordinator for al of us.

How would you rate yours first year of work in the new Government?

- I do not want to rate myself, yet it is my personal opinion that the complete MoD management is doing its work well. The SAF rating is on the rise according to al public opinion polls as well as its repute. Our defense industry has managed to lunch a new LASTA training aircraft, we have prepared seven law drafts and two strategies in our domain, and the interest in military schools is high. This year, the first year of students will enroll The Military Medical Academy’s School of Medicine. The diplomatic mission of MoD is also very important to us, we are being received at the highest level, top state officials come to pay us a visit, while US Vice President Biden also visited our Ministry.
What is the Government’s biggest result?

- Any defense minister in my place would say the expansion of defense industry. It made a 400 million USD profits, which is a huge success in these times of crisis, and an even greater success lies in the fact that this was achieved by an industry destroyed ten years ago. Another big step is the fact that we are just a step away from canceling visas. The democratization is also our achievement.

And the biggest mistake of the government?

- The fact that the Government dealt with minor and irrelevant issues imposed by the opposition and that part of the public which wishes to disrupt the ruling party and to deter it from its concrete tasks.

You were also the defense minister in the Kostunica’s Government, so can you compare the first year of both governments?

- There is a lot less pressure, there are no ulterior motifs in the actions of some people, no limitations, and as a result that oppressing atmosphere that hung over each government’s session has vanished.

On what do you base your opinion that the Government will get through the whole mandate, is it because of the poor opposition or because of a successful team and program you use for leading Serbia onward?

- We were not credited with a four-year mandate on pure luck or for nothing, and we have good reasons top stay in power. The opposition is not making constructive criticism, but is rather bluffing its way to the hearts of voters.
 
MOD
Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia, Bircaninova 5 street, Belgrade
Questions of citizens: brziodgovor@mod.gov.rs, media requests: info@mod.gov.rs
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