22.09.2009.

Minister meets with directors of defense industry factories

Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac visited the defense industry in Cacak meeting with the six directors of the largest factories of the Serbian defense industry and of Yugoimport-SDPR. This was an occasion to see the plans, balance and the problems these factories are facing as well as to see real possibilities of the ministry of Defense to help them address these issues.

At the beginning of his meeting, Minister Sutanovac said that the start of this meeting was still heavily oppressed with the memory of a recent disaster when an arms plant blast in Uzice claimed the lives of seven citizens. However, as he added, joint efforts should aim at continuing with the production process and the funds needed for salaries should be provided. MoD supports the defense industry of Serbia, but stressed that frequently the concepts of accountability and help get confused in the public.

- The Ministry of Defense is accountable for the working of several factories, and MoD exhibits a wish to help and promote these products in the area of defense in various foreign markets, which would all support the government and the budget of the Republic of Serbia”, as Sutanovac stated. He also announced that the upcoming meeting with the representatives of the defense industry and the Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic where they should consider form of providing assistance to this export-oriented part of our industry.

Defense Minister Sutanovac, in a media statement after the meeting, said that with good and top-quality products our defense industry managed to return to the world markets as this is one of the greatest economic endeavors of our country.

- Last year we had agreed to export 40 million worth of goods, and we complied by this agreement, and this year we even expect to exceed this sum, which means that our industry has a good future. Unfortunately, our defense industry still operates under the heavy burden of destruction caused by NATO bombardment when a large number of factories was destroyed, some of them leaving with a number of redundant employees, and some of them even have trouble placing the goods on the market. Some of them have even not paid their debts to the state, but it is expected that adequate solutions will be found in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense.

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Despite an almost complete destruction suffered during the 1999 campaign, it is returning to the world markets as we have a large number of contracts signed, while hoping to sign new contracts and to achieve a break through to new markets.

As the minister noted, all sides reached an agreement, that safety was one of the main priorities that should be observed during the production process. The employees, as Sutaonavc underlined, should strictly observe rules and regulations of conduct and thgis is a question which should not be compromised about. A joint inspection of the Ministry of Defense and the Interior will be organized so which is to establish the rules and regulations the workers in the defense industry should abide by.

A direct help to factories is also an option which was considered by the Ministry.

The Minister expressed his pleasure with seeing other factories providing support in the aftermath of the blast in “Prvi partisan” while at the same time commiserating with the families of the victims.
The investigation into the causes is under the jurisdiction of the legal organs, but the good thing is that there was no “witch hunt”, which was the case in an accident in Lucani. Soon this factory will launch the production process in two shifts in all the factory facilities except in that part where the blast occurred.

As for the SAF Dome in Cacak, it will be soon sold to the city authorities, but only if al the clauses of the agreement are abided by, as Sutanovac announced. With respect to the conversion of Ladjevci air field, a project which would cost les was under way, while announcing first charter flight in this airport as soon as next year.

As regards the export contracts signed with Iraq, Minister said that this was a great opportunity for all other companies from Serbia, which is why abiding by the agreement is a precondition.