27.11.2009.
Minister Sutanovac for Politika daily
If we were to rely only on those countries which did not recognize Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia would reach a dead end situation.The Minister of Defense Dragan Syutanovac who upon the invitation of Robert Gates, State Secretary of Defense, visited USA last week, says in his interview to “Politika” daily that cooperation with this country ion the field of defense is of great importance to Serbia. ‘No doubt that this was a very important visit”. If we take into account that this is the first official invitation after 25 years, it is clear that both sides have high hopes. Since the democratic changes in Serbia in 2000. USA have donated over 500 million USD which makes them the second donor country after EU. A portion of these funds were allocated to SAF.”
What is you assessment of the cooperation in the field of defense?
The Ministry of Defense of Serbia has maintained very stable relations with USA, and we can safely sy that this cooperation is the pillar of general relations of these two countries. Late 2006, Serbia joined PfP, and this year we also signed the security agreement, thus opening the path to further cooperation. Appointing Mr. Branislav Milinkovic as our ambassador to NATO PfP represents a step forward to future, even better relations of Serbia with USA.
What do you refer to when you say that defense is the pillar of relations between Serbia and USA?
It is a naïve thought to reduce the partnership in defense down to cooperation between armies. If we are aware that the USA defense budget is as the defense budget of the rest of the world, it becomes painfully clear what USA value as the most important thing. I am certain that if we adjust our interest in defense to their defense goals, we can have more possibilities, especially n the field of economy and industry.
Are these relations in line with the neutrality policy?
The Serbian National Assembly has reached a decision which is binding to all the state organs. However, only an open dialogue can bring us closer to a solution to problems we are facing. If we establish both partnership and friendship, then we have reached an ideal relation.
Our engagement when it comes to our relations with USA does not clash with the decision of the parliament on Serbia’s military neutrality. On the contrary, if we analyze carefully the statements of opposition leaders given in the past few months, we can see that all those political leaders aware of the responsibility their position bears, all advocate better relations with all the four pillars of our foreign policy.
Do we take care to maintain all these contacts with EU, USA, Russia at the same level?
In the last two years, we tried to adjust our foreign policy activities to our priority goal, obtaining EU membership, as well as to the needs of our defense system. I am certain that we have succeeded in this. When we talk about Serbia’s accession to EU I have to remind you that the European commission as early as last year stated in its report that the system of defense in Serbia had meet all the criteria of democratic world.
What is your view of the Russian plan on the new security system in Europe.
I have not had a chance to attend a single meeting during the visit of the Russian President Dimitry Medvedev where security was discussed from Moscow’s point of view. I do not have a full insight into this proposal, which means I have no concrete position. However, it is my personal belief that Serbia should become a regional leader and should start fulfilling its international obligations which all the world countries have to comply. Let me remind you that Serbia has for the first time sent its military medical team to a UN mission to Chad. This was how Serbia returned to the international secen of preserving global security, which ranks as a mature and internationally responsible country.
USA support the independence of Kosovo and Metohija and they have deployed their troops there. How does this fit into your efforts to strengthen relations in the field of defense?
The fact remains that even during the visit of Joseph Byden, Vice President of USA, the officials of both Serbia and USA did not fail to mention that we clashed in this respect. On the other hand, what Byden said during his visit to Pristina, is completely in line with Belgrade’s interests-that is improving the standard of life of the citizens in Kosovo, greater respect of human rights, protection of minorities, and curbing all kind of extremism. It is up to the politicians to protect the citizens from a dead end situation, in which Serbia would find itself should it rely only on the support of those countries which did not recognize Kosovo.
Does this mean that you should be as pragmatic as possible?
Let us just picture Serbia without any direct or indirect investments which come from US through various companies. How many thousands of families would be left without income? A responsible politician should always bear this in mind even if this does not bring them political popularity. By choosing politics as our profession, we have opted for taking full responsibility for our actions, which means establishing our results and failures at the end of the term.
Planned meetings in USA
During his visit to USA< Minister Sutanovac met with the Secretary of State for Defense Robert Gates, with scheduled visit to the White House, State Department, Congress and the Senate as well as to Ohio with the representatives of ONG (Ohio National Guard). “SAF have established excellent cooperation with ONG< while the MoD had excellent cooperation with US DoD”, as Sutanovac says.
Educating Serbian officers
In the period 2001-2009, a total of 83 members of MoD and SAF were sent to various forms of studies in USA. Currently there are 13 officers, one NCO and four students at the studies in USA.
D.Janjic
