Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
 
03.06.2010.

Minister Sutanovac's interview to Vecernje Novosti daily



ARMY PULLS FORWARDEU has finally started regarding SAF as the guarantor of peace and stability in the region, while the reforms carried out so far have been met with positive reactions and commendations in EU.
These are the key messages that Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac will bring to Serbia after his visit to EU Parliament, where before the Subcommittee for Security he presented the results of the reforms as well as the plans for the future. Sutanovac is our first minister to have been given an opportunity to speak of such matters before this important European institution.

I acquainted the MEPs with the adopted reform laws and acts in the previous three years. My personal assessment is that this visit has been extremely important where we garnered necessary support for further professionalization, strengthening of civil and democratic control of the defense system, and the reforms in the military education and health-care system.

What did you tell the MEPs, what will our army look like after the completion of all reform processes?
- We expect to complete this process by the end of the next year. The reforms we have been conducting in the last three years have been in harmony with EU standards and have surpassed the expectations of our EU colleagues, who had their doubts as to the stressfulness of the whole process and that this much work could be done for such a short time. MEPs observed that Serbia has become a country exporting security.
How many people will remain in the defense system?

- Some 36000 with a personnel map harmonized with the highest standards. Our system of defense is getting a modern character and represents a main reform bearer and proponent in Serbia thus accelerating its path towards EU.

Have you talked about international military cooperation?

- Yes. Especially about regional military cooperation. I informed the EU parliament that MoD had established very firm relations with over 50 countries in the world, and that in the last three years alone Serbia had inked a total of 17 agreements on bilateral military cooperation.In mid June we expect to ink another such agreement with Croatia.

What are the provisions of this agreement?

It represents a legal basis for developing bilateral and military cooperation between these two countries, and it is a political signal that our two armies are not enemies

How will this contribute to restoring once broken relations in the Balkans?

The European future of the region depends primarily on bilateral relations of the countries in the region, and this is where MoD contributes to restoring this long lost trust. We are leaders in building good neighborly relations and we wish for it to remain so. Furthermore, the general trust being established in the field of security and defense is the basis for our future cooperation with EU. The agreement with Croatia represents a sort of round-up for cooperation with other former Yugoslav Republics. Currently, we are educating officers from BH, Macedonia, and Montenegro at our MA and we soon hope to educate Croatian officers.

Do you plan to deploy our soldiers in some new peace missions?

In addition to four peace missions Serbia is taking part in, I expect our members to soon take part in peace missions in Cyprus and the Lebanon.

When do you expect to open our office with NATO?

We hope to complete this task soon when we, as a country, would be ready to make full use of all Partnership for peace benefits, in various fields, ranging from the environment, health care, science…

Has Brussels shown any sign of concern regarding the current security situation in Serbia, especially after latest events and escalation of violence in Kosovska Mitrovica?

Any kind of violence and conflict in Kosovo destabilizes the region. We feel that the international community and EULEX reacted promptly this time and prevented any large-scale escalation of violence. We are closely monitoring the situation and the events, while cooperating with KFOR closely.

Do you expect an escalation of violence as the date when the International Court of Justice reaches his verdict draws near?

No, we do not. I am confident that the international forces in Kosovo can prevent possible violence.


FULL TRUTH ABOUT “THE SATTELITE”

WHEN will the public learn the full truth about the satellite scandal?

- I am advocating for seeing this story that has been going on for five years now to be finalized before the court of justice, and for the public to be appraised of the whole truth. On the other hand I am certain that the state would do its utmost not to waste the sum in question, but to get some Israeli defense products in exchange for it.

WE ARE BUILDING FLATS ALL OVER SERBIA

RECENTLY, You signed a property exchange contract with the Mayor of Jagodina. Are any more similar plans with other Serbian towns?

We are currently settling the same matter in Subotica, Sabac, Cacak, Vrsac, Pirot, Pozarevac and Leskovac. I take this opportunity to call on all local self-governments having interest in the military compounds and facilities declared as unaffordable in the master plan by the army to contact us so we can make these exchanges in the soonest possible period.
 
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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