17.09.2010.
Minister's interview to Novosti
NO PEOPLE NO COUNTRY
Dragan Sutanovac, Minister of Defense: Often with tension we win in the final seconds. In Sandzak, however, the Kosovo scenario will not repeat itself.
The message that Serbia should primarily fight for the life of the citizens in Kosovo, and not for acres, is nothing new as I have been repeating it for years. It represents no shift in the policy, either of the state or the Democratic Party, or my personal shift – as Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac said in an interview to "Novosti" daily.
Many, however, feel that these statements are unpatriotic, as a form of accepting to negotiate technical issues thus desisting from the Kosovo as an integral part of Serbia?
- If the Serbs leave Kosovo any political struggle for this area will be futile. The priority today is to ensure a peaceful and secure life for the citizens in Kosovo. Never, under any circumstances, will we recognize Kosovo as an independent state and we have made this perfectly clear. I hope that it will be the policy of all the future governments too.
WE ARE NOT WORRIED BY THE PROGRESSIVE PART OF TOMISLAV NIKOLIC
Are democrats concerned about the rising popularity of SNS?
- I do not think that the DS has any reason for concern. At the middle of the term, we have behind us years of the worst world economic crisis ever and we are still the most trusted party in Serbia .
After the election is there any possibility for the coalition of the DS and the SNS to be formed?
- I don’t think that that is an option. Especially when the main support to Nikolic are Vulin, Karic, Ilic ... Nikolic is using his pro-European rhetoric to flirt with the voters in Serbia and with diplomats in the country. At a meeting with German Foreign Minister Westervele, he introduced himself as the greatest europhorist but I'm not sure how much he should be taken seriously ... When he publicly admits that he had moved from the street not because it bears the name of Zoran Djindjic, but because they bought a bigger apartment, that he regrets having put up posters of war criminals and ICTY indictees and that he would do everything to see Mladic in the Hague – then will I begin to believe that he has truly changed.
And what about the stories that the West sees the leader of the progressive party as a sort of a reserve for the DS, or politicians who could put an end to the story about and the recognition of Kosovo? However, Nikolic accused DS of trying to set forth the same "conspiracy theory" ...
- I want to believe that in Serbia there is no responsible politician who would for his personal gain or because of trying to land some sort of a deal would recognize Kosovo. Unfortunately, I can safely say that Nikolic is ready to do everything, only to come to power. I dare him to deny this.
What would you personally opt for: Kosovo or Europe?
- We should have a policy based on realistic possibilities. The most important thing is never to find yourself or bring the country in a position make such a choice.
But what kind of guarantee have you got that Kosovo and the EU will remain two separate processes?
- It will greatly depend on us and it will be a big test for those who leading the country in the years to come. We must do everything to become a factor of stability, to help ensure that life in Kosovo is organized on democratic principles, not to try to achieve certain goals by raising tensions.
Is the adoption of the resolution on Kosovo in the UN General Assembly a victory or a defeat for you?
- The fact that Serbia itself has formulated a paper with the EU after many years, an organization 75 percent of Serbian citizens are inclined to, for me is a success. The positive is that this joint resolution has been accepted by all UN countries. Unfortunately, when we win, we do it with a lot of tension, and at the very last moment
Some even think and have voiced their opinion quite strongly, that Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic should bear the responsibility for building up such tensions. What do you think?
- It's important to see where we go from here, and let historians give their judgment. I am convinced that everyone who worked on it gave their best, believing that they were doing the best they could. I do not believe that anyone involved was making calculations for their own personal gain and had deliberately brought us to this high-tense situation. It was simply a sequence of events. At the end of the day, the most important is the final result, which was positive.
Part of the opposition accused the authorities of the Serbian acceptance of the resolution in this form means recognition of Kosovo independence ...
-That is absolutely not true! Not a single word in the resolution indicates that.
What is your message to the citizens who, seeing what has been happening in Novi Pazar in the last couple of days, fear that the Kosovo scenario might repeat in Sandzak?
- Citizens should not worry, it will not happen. The fact is that we are now at the height of the crisis, but we should be patient. The essence of all is the economy. You need to employ people, secure jobs and then all this rhetoric will have no support.
How did you feel when you heard the shouts: "This is Turkey?
- Of course I was not happy. But let's be honest, and it has happened and is happening in all the countries of the former Yugoslavia where there are minorities. When Serbia plays against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the citizens of RS root for the Serbian representation. I am sorry that some people in Sandzak do not perceive our team as their national team, although a large number of Bosniaks play in the team. I hope that they will change their attitude in the future.
BILLION DOLLARS OF EXPORT
What is the revenue of our defense industry for this year?
- Serbia is definitely the largest exporter of arms and military equipment in the South East Europe. Except Kragujevac Zastava, which has problems, all other plants have a record production and exports. I am expecting that the contract which would bring a revenue exceeding1 billion USD be confirmed every.
How does the military monitor and follow the situation in Sandzak and the South Serbia?
- Serbian Army is the army of all the citizens of this country, not an element of domestic politics. And in the Sandzak region and in the south we are also present in various humanitarian activities. I say that Serbia is one of the safest European countries, this can be confirmed by most foreign diplomats who travel freely in Serbia, and feel free to move. I expect to a large number of Bosniaks to apply for the positions of professional soldiers.
The process of professionalization is nearing its final stages, what will our army look like?
- When it comes to the structure, unit strength, training and equipment it will be one part of the modern in the region. Our army is widely seen as a stabilizing factor, not only in the Balkans. Now the members of VS participate in six international missions - in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Congo, Chad, and in several days in Lebanon and Cyprus. VS still enjoys a good reputation with foreign armies, statesmen and ministers.
And are numerous scandals that once shook VS in the past?
- The number of so-called uncommon events in the military has drastically reduced and we do our best to keep it that way. The Army has finally reclaimed its rightful position and now, after the Church enjoys the greatest trust of citizens. On the promotion of a new class of officers last week in front of the National Assembly we have had the biggest audience so far. The numbers of those interested in entering the professional composition of the army are all expectations, and we hope that after the promotion videos for professionalization, with famous actors starring in them, these numbers will soar.
When will our military mission to NATO in Brussels be opened?
- It's ready, and next week the head of mission with two other officers will be leaving for Brussels. The military mission will have10 members. A large number of countries in NATO and PfP offered their assistance in the opening of the office and making it operational as soon as possible.
How far are we from joining the Alliance?
- That is not realistic now, but that does not mean that we shouldn’t try to establish cooperation which will benefit not only our defense system, but also various other areas such as environmental, health, energy security .. .
If the Serbian had previously entered NATO, would this have enabled us to have better positions in the defense of Kosovo, or we would not have been at all able to fight for it?
- I believe that the history of the former Yugoslavia and now Serbia could have taken another route in the early nineties had the then leadership realized the need to redefine relations with the West. Nobody forces you to be a member of either the EU or NATO. We are given the opportunity to enter the two organizations which are in the strongest economic and security associations in the world, with which also Russia, China, Japan cooperate ...No country has ever left these associations, and there are countries that want to become members. This fact alone speaks volumes
I LOVE PRESIDENTIALS
What are your personal plans before the scheduled elections in the DS and will you support the proposal to increase or decrease the number of vice-presidential posts?
- I'll just say that I like the elections in the DS, because a democrat always win!
You became an indispensable interlocutor of foreign officials who recently came to Serbia, which many see as a strengthening of your position in the party ...
- The fact that foreign statesmen and officials in almost all visits by I am leading, receive the delegation of the Ministry of Defence at the highest level, which was not the case with my predecessors, bespeaks of a high degree of respect for our work and reforms we are conducting. Of course, this is another way to justify the trust of DS.
