22.11.2010.
LTG Miletic's interview to Alo
A small bust of a Serbian Duke stands in the cabinet of the Serbian Chief of Staff,LTG Miloje Miletic, just behind his back.General Miletic is satisfied with the pace of the process of professionalization of the Army of Serbia.
- Our objective is to finalize this process by the end of this year later this year, that is, by 2011 we plan to man all the SAF units with professional soldiers.
When do you plan to call the last generation of soldiers for regular service?
- In December, but we will leave the possibility of voluntary military service for those who want it.
What will be with those who have avoided military service?
- In April of this year the amnesty law came into force. That law grants amnesty to all those persons who had previously avoided military service.
Is the military service going to be completely abolished?
- Military service will not be abolished completely, but will be "frozen" rather. We estimated that in the present situation we have no need for conscription. The draft of the decision on the suspending obligatory military service in peacetime is in parliamentary procedure, but the Parliament can change this decision, if you later the need arises. In the case of imminent danger or war, this obligation can be activated.
Are you satisfied with the number of candidates applying for professional soldiers?
- We are pleased with the response, for four or five people competing for one vacancy. People have recognized the armed forces of Serbia as a serious institution which offer secure jobs, regular income, social and health care for their family members andthemelves. This work provides a career, because employees can be educated and promoted.
How many are there soldiers in the SAF?
- Our plan is 36,000 people in the Army of Serbia and the Ministry of Defence. The army will have 28,000 professional members and 2,000 active reservists.
What does it mean on a regional level?
- Given the area and the population of Serbia, SAF can be considered as a respectable force in the region. I can say with full responsibility that we are one of the strongest armies in the region.
Will the concept of active reserves come to life?
- It will as the reserve corps is made of people who are trained for military purposes, but are not always stationed in the barracks, because there is no need for it. For example, there is no need to with every weapon available to the Army of Serbia have a full crew each day in the unit. There are people who are trained for it and we can count on them at every moment.
What are their responsibilities?
- They signed a contract with the Army, to which must be about 45 days a year, to conduct training in their units and if necessary can be employed. In many countries they are engaged in missions abroad. They will, however, receive pay for time spent in the unit. Some countries have tax benefits, advantages in education; obtaining a condo in student campuses ... The system here has yet to develop.
Who could enter the active reserve? You rely on employed people?
- Of course, we count on the employed citizens. In addition, they must meet certain conditions, for example, that the military obligation has been fulfilled, that they are capable of military service and that they have the citizenship of Serbia ...
There is speculation that the opening of the NATO mission is a step closer to joining the Alliance?
-We have come no closer or further from joining the NATO with the opening of the mission of Serbia in the NATO. The decision of the Serbian Parliament from December 2007 is clear - Serbia is neutral, and realizes its interests through the Partnership for Peace, the state will be the one deciding upon the accession to the NATO.
Do you NATO officials in talks once mentioned the bombing in 1999?
- People who make decisions in the armies during the NATO aggression are no longer current. I do not often meet with those who took part in it, because they are primarily pilots, and generally do not talk about it. In general, I personally like, whenever one of them comes to visit, say, 250 air defense missile brigade, and to say that this unit shot down F117.
Are they mad?
- On the contrary, they even show interest to obtain as much information about it as possible. To be honest, often we are praised for performing our duties professionally.
What is the security situation in the southern Serbia and Sandzak?
- In short, the situation is relatively stable, potentially unstable, but under control.
Are you concerned about the initiatives for the autonomy of Sandzak and "natural Albania"?
- You can hear such statements in public more often as a means of getting political points at the local level than they correspond with the facts. There is no reason for us to be concerned, but we should tackle these problems. It is usually the difficult economic situation which causes extremist groups to act, and that same argument is something we should try to deprive them of.
What else could step on our toes?
- The main problem, except for Kosovo and Metohija, are the specific criminal structures and smuggling activities of extremist groups in the region. In military terms there is no security threat to Serbia.
Which weapons and military equipment does the army plan to procure the next year?
- In general we are planning to get means of electronic intelligence support to operational security, a means of developing the integration of the telecommunications system of the Serbian Army, police / military equipment, school aircrafts "lasta", aerospace equipment, search and rescue ...
I LOVE RUSSIAN CLASSICS
What do you like to read?
- I like Russian classics, but lately I mostly read materials formy staff meetings, strategy and doctrine. The latest thing I read was Orhan Pamuk’s, "Black Book" and "Dzevdet Beg and His Sons". I plan to read history - from medieval times, so long as I can.
What movie would you recommend to our readers?
- I love historical spectacles - "Ben Hur", "Troy", but if I had to recommend a movie then it would be "Bourne Identity" but with Richard Chamberlain starring.
Stopped smoking, started to swim!
What does chief of general staff do when not in uniform?
- The only day I do not wear uniform is Sunday. I quit smoking in January of this yearin order to keep off the weight, I started going to the sports center of the Military Academy on weekends in the gym and swimming.
Do you watch sports, which club do you support?
- Unfortunately, in this country there is no more football. I am a fan of Partizan, and I like to watch Manchester United and Barcelona.
