24.11.2010.
Minister's interview to NOVOSTI
SUTANOVAC: ARMY BOOSTS ECONOMY
After several years of negotiations in the most adverse conditions of economic crisis we have managed to put together a deal worth $ 400 million to build three plants in North Africa. This is significant not only for our defense industry, but for the entire economy. I am sure that this work will be at the top of the list when they summarized the biggest successes of this government - said in an interview for "Novosti" Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac.
He added that the negotiations for two other projects were under waythe construction of the Military Medical Academy, modeled after our MMA and the overhaul and modernization of tanks – the value of these contracts reached as much as 2 billion USD.- This is a phenomenal result, not only for Serbia, but on a global scale - says defense minister.
How many jobs will these contracts bring?
- They will bring security for thousands of workers for the next six or seven years, the period projected for the realization of tasks. For example, in a project of building a factory, for the first time in 30 years we will employ many of our construction workers, engineers and designers. In many factories where were on a hunger strike tow-three years ago, now we are in the position to reject new projects, because they meet the deadlines. But, unfortunately, there are still factories that need rehabilitation. There are some with debts, and they need to be modernized.
Can these problems be solved through privatization?
- I believe that the state should retain a share in the defense industry. There are many benefits of the success of the defense industry-employing people, filling the budget, reducing the deficit ... In December, after more than two decades, Serbia will gets a new plant, a new forge plant in Krusik where krusik Valjevo stood prior to the bombing which demolished to the ground.
In December you will call the last class of recruits being subject to the obligation of military service. Will it mark the end of the professionalization of the army?
- This will mark the completion of the major segment of the reforms, but the professionalization and modernization are still not drawing to a close. Our military gets praise from the most powerful armies in the world as one of the most respected in the region, and we want to keep this position.
At the recently held NATO Summit in Lisbon, our country was praised for supporting the Euro-Atlantic integration. That is contradictory as our government officials always assure us that the Serbian military neutrality?
- When we joined the Partnership for Peace in 2006, we chose the Euro-Atlantic integration. The decision of the Parliament on Serbia’s military neutrality obliges us as regards possible accession to the Alliance, but it does not limit cooperation.
How can we intensify cooperation within the PfP, if, as President Tadic has recently stated that Serbia had no intention to join the Alliance?
- There is much room for cooperation as we are the last country in the region to have joined the PfP, and only a few months ago we opened an office in Brussels. This, I repeat, cannot in any way call into question our neutrality.
And does good military cooperation with NATO countries, primarily with the U.S., which Hillary Clinton during her visit to Belgrade described as the best segment of the relations between the two countries, in any way disrupt the relations between Belgrade and Moscow?
- Absolutely not. The misconception is that the Serbian has taken one side in terms of military cooperation and that we are solely committed to cooperation with the western armies. Besides the U.S. and Canada, I visited China recently while a month ago the Chief of the Russian army was on a visit to Serbia. We want our country to become the main driving force of the region and our military force as a factor of stability and economic prosperity. In achieving this goal all the help is greatly appreciated.
We met Svetko Kovac, director of the Military Security Agency at the entrance to MoD. What did he report to you regarding the security situation in Serbia?
- VBA has prepared a report that will soon be presented to the Parliament and which states that the army has complied with all activities related to cooperation with the ICTY. According to the information no one in the defense system of Serbia would waste money, effort and time to hide Mladic and Hadzic. It is essential that all security structures exert utmost efforts free Serbia of its obligations towards the Hague because it is like a noose round our necks.
To what extent are the security in southern Serbia and the Sandzak region threatened especially given the incendiary rhetoric of the leaders of the Albanians and Bosniaks from this area?
- Such warmongering and incendiary y rhetoric is just as dangerous as in Belgrade, Sandzak or what we witnessed in Genoa, during a football match. Fortunately, all these attacks in the south and in the Sandzak did not garner much support among the citizens. We try to include in the defense system as many members of ethnic minorities as possible, in order to demonstrate that the SAF is the army of all citizens of Serbia.
Many believe that the government should have reacted to certain statements which have seriously undermined the constitutional system of the country, such as calling for a "Greater Albania" ...in a more stricter way
- This is, above all, upon the judicial authorities to take a clear stand. Our institutions are often too cautious in these situations because the reaction of the state has generally been seen as the oppression of minorities, given the legacy of our tumultuous past in 1990s.
Is there a concern regarding the KFOR’s decision to continue with the reduction and reorganization of units in Kosovo?
- Yes, we made that quite clear at the last meeting of General Miletic with the KFOR commander. Although NATO is not one of popular institutions in Serbia, I think we all agree that there is a need for their presence, because it guarantees the safety of our citizens.
How do you feel as a member of the Government which, according to "Gallup" media agency’s research, is at the bottom of the list of institutions in which citizens have confidence? Only NATO stands worse on this list ...
- That is certainly not a pleasant thing to me. But for the first time the army has superseded the Church through when it comes to the level of trust the citizens have in, which means that these are institutions in which he citizens have most confidence. But, we are witnessing rigged public polls studies showing a rise in confidence in the system of defense, but that I, as captain of the team, have reached a dead end regarding the number of citizens supporting me. It would be as if a team is always winning the game but the fans have no confidence in the coach.
President Tadic talked about the reconstruction of the government after the presidentials in DS. What, in your opinion, was the optimal number of sectors?
- The umber of ministers is not what counts as much as the results of these ministers .
What do you expect from a new election in DS? What are your plans?
- I am convinced that the people from the top, and members of the Democratic Party are aware that we are electing leadership as the best representatives, which will allow the Democrats to gain the trust of citizens and to be the leading party after the next election. Personally, I expect that a sufficient number of boards will support me for vice-presidential position and support the delegates on the voting assembly.
And many in the Democratic Party fear that the apparent excess of candidates, and a lack of chairs, could caused serious turmoil in the party ...
- Elections in the Democratic Party have always been the top political issue, but this time the claims that there are major clashes in the party are not true. For many years we did not have such a harmonious relations in the party itself, as is the case today.
What do you think about proposals that those candidates who fail the rigorous party selection should give up high-level government functions?
- This is a simplification of a serious matter. Loss in party elections is not end of the world, it should be an incentive to put even more effort and better prepare for the next assembly. I lost at presidentials when I gave my vote to Zoran Djindjic but then he won, and that it was crucial, so I returned to the race and later was elected vice-president DS.
NO MONEY OWED TO UTILITIES
Is your ministry on the list of debtors for utilities?
- System of Defense spends 3.1 billion RSD per year for various utilities and energy, and is currently almost free of debt. By not paying bills the state sends a bad message to the citizens and this urgently needs to change.
EU MISSIONS TO START NEXT SPRING
There are ongoing negotiations with the EU about our participation in EU peacekeeping missions. To which destinations do you plan to send our soldiers?
- defense system is preparing a security agreement with the EU, on the basis of which the army and police will be able to participate in European peacekeeping missions. We hope that this will start next spring, , "Atlanta" mission being the first to break the ice, where our officers along with Greek soldiers will be on one of the ships on the coast of Somalia.
I AM NOT AMONG FIRST 300 IN SALARY
What is your view on proposals that officials continue to remain frozen salaries?
- I agree that it is not fair for the officials to have their salaries raised. On the other hand, there are many inconsistencies in terms of remuneration for public institutions, and often assistants or clerks earn more than ministers. For instance, the amount of benefits received by employees in the Ministry of Defence do not even come among first 300.
