25.12.2009.
Minister's interview to "Vecernje Novosti"
TIME TO LEARN OUR LESSONSerbian defense industry has made 300 million USD worth of export in this year, the first man of the Serbian military has been presented with a special award of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce for his contribution to Serbian economy during the crisis. Unfortunately, the army won’t be seeing much of this money as the budget has been reduced by 68 million RSD.
In addition to the professionalization of the army which is the greatest challenge for our defense system, and the reforms in it according to Dragan Sutanovac, the budgetary money will be spent on conversion of Ladjevci air base, continuation of cooperation with the defense industry and its promotion in the world. The number of military exercises will be increased, as well as the number of peacekeeping operations we take part in, especially in the mission in Lebanon.
As of New Year the duty will fall into the hands of NATO mission which many say was established for the purpose of making it a sort of a threshold for our joining the NATO. What is the truth?- I am so glad to hear this discussion open once again: who is the traitor and who is the mole, who is the patriot as this only serves to show that there is no real criticism of our work here! Let me remind you that we have made the biggest progress in approximating the NATO when we joined the Partnership for Peace Program just during Kostunica’s government and at the same time when the NATO Military Liaison Office was opened in Belgrade in the Ministry of Defense. Opening the Serbian mission with NATO is just another consequences that should have occurred three years ago.
-President Tadic sent a message which states that the Democratic Party needs to be centralized even further. Shouldn’t the key be in greater freedom to choose and to create centers of power?
- The Democratic Party has its procedures that no one wants to endanger. However, the entropy existing within the financial system and in acting upon decisions resulted in placing all this under control. There should be one center for controlling the funds we use. Unless we heed to this and unless some form of solidarity, some part councils will always be left behind.
-Therefore, this has nothing to do with decisions, or the need to placate certain party councils and politicians?
I cannot recall any decision that has not been made unanimously.
There have been various opinions at the time the Statute of Vojvodina was adopted, coming from Vojvodina sections…
I do not believe that this message was intended for them. The Statute of Vojvodina issue doe not pertain to any party, therefore the messages regarding the Statute were not pertaining to one specific party.
Are other opinions sometimes heard too?
They could be most certainly heard. Anyone has their right to think for themselves and to express their views, but once you have made a decision you must act upon it. There is an ongoing very lively discussion, and this should affect any democratic process, on the contrary.
The President’s attempts to placate you have become more frequent, as he announces further assessment of those who did not perform well. How do you take this?
I have not recognized myself in any of these criticisms, even though I was raised to believe that one can always do better. Luckily for me, what I do can be assessed in mathematical terms. Therefore, unlike some other ministries, anyone can see my results.
Who is the President criticizing then?
The President is making remarks which could be taken as beneficial for further improvement of our work.
There are rifts among ministers from different parties but also among those who are members of the same party. Would you agree that some of them have maybe overdone it with marketing?
That is worthy of criticism. I am sure that these things could easily be recognized in the public and the public doe not trust them since what they talked about was pure marketing. Our marketing activities as regards our results has been very poor. If we want to complete professionalization, we have to be more serious about it. I do not feel an adequate support of the NOGO sector or the media in this respect.
Is there any panic in DS after the elections in the Belgrade municipality of Vozdovac?
The very fact that we lost our elections in Vozdovac where the local government had done so much is alarming enough for us to ask ourselves what caused this. But just as I have not celebrated the victory of DS in Vrbas, and did not lament our loss in Vozdovac. The fact remains that our President did not participate in the election campaign, unlike the Presidents of other parties. One thing is clear; we must learn our lesson from this in order not to repeat them. It is a serious loss, but not a catastrophe.
You do not accept the so called reformed Tomislav Nikolic as you say that he is a radical without the badge of Vojislav Seselj. However, his party is becoming the second most powerful party in the country.
I believe that Serbia will take a bipolar political course and that is only logical. That is not my choice, yet it is obvious that the other segment of our people are gathering around this party. I do not trust his proverbial pro-European rhetoric, I doubt their sincerity, even though that would be a wonderful thing for Serbia as then we would all have a shared goal.
And you would be fighting for the same electorate body?
That is only logical, as similar struggle takes place in France, Italy, Germany…That is the struggle for political positions, and for different set of values. Their campaign full of “border” and “Government” still resonate in my ears, and I will need time to become convinced that they have truly changed, as you know the saying the leopard never changes its spots.
It is too early for you to forge any post election alliances?
If we are to take up the bipolar course, then there is no logic for the two greatest political parties to get into a coalition. One of these two parties must win, and I believe that it will be DS.
Nikolic is convinced that elections will be by fall next year?
He says that every year.
However, the next year is an election year for your party... Do you believe that you should increase the number of Vice Presidents of the party just to satisfy the appetites and ambitions of some politicians?
I do not know why people believe this to be an easy position, as it is an honor but an obligation too. This was more important to me than being a minister or an MP.
Is this post reserved for those with a long membership in the party? Do novices belong on the throne?
- Oh, no! Even though I have been a member for many years, all those who have quality and who can contribute to the work of the state and party is welcome and I will support them even if they are a new member. Take Dragan Djilas for example, he does his work well and it does not matter for how long he has been a member.
Do you have a similar attitude towards some of your colleagues from the Government?
I do not want to single out anyone in particular, maybe Snezana Malovic, as I am currently following her work closely especially w2hen it comes to threats made to her over the reelection of judges.
SERBIA BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA
Serbia is very much interested in the Russian proposal of the new organization of European security. Do you feel it is possible to strike a balance between these two powers, are you more inclined to see Serbia closer to one option?
Serbia’s main goal is to concentrate on the security policy of the region, as Serbia is not an important factor in global terms but it can become a leader in the region. We cannot make any concepts with Russia as NATO has divided us years ago. Even the Russian gas we get comes through NATO member states. Such proposal of President Medvedev should be the topic for discussion in European forums such as OSCE.
PONOS’S ATTACKS STILL A MYSTERY
This time last year you had a conflict with the then SAF CHOD LTG Ponos. Have the problems disappeared once he was demoted?
His attacks were motivated by something that still remains unclear to me. Today the Ministry and the army function as one body.
Where is General Ponos now?
In the Ministry of Defense?
Dubravka VUjanovic
