25.11.2010.

Minister gives a lecture at the National Defense School

Minister of Defense, Dragan Sutanovac gave today a lecture to 54th class of of general staff college and 57th class of the command staff college including 1st class of basic command staff course of the School of National Defense.

Sutanovac expressed his satisfaction that there were member of foreign armies among the members of the Serbian Army which proves good regional cooperation and the international credibility of our country.

At the beginning of his expose, the Minister reminded the present of the characteristics of the global security situation, saying that any hot spot in the world can disrupt global economic trends.

Echoes of the political changes and social trends in America, Russia and China are expected to take effect in our country as well, said minister of defense. In addition, the current new strategic concept of NATO, as he pointed out, will determine the future activities of the organization.

When it comes to cooperation with the European Union, a union of countries we aspire to join, efforts have been made towards including SAF in EU missions, the minister remarked, adding that in this case the SAF should be regarded as the main driving force in approximating Serbia to EU.
Recalling the internal problems in our country, Sutanovac said that Serbia was not currently exposed to security threats, however, the area of Kosovo and Metohija was still a hotbed of organized crime in this part of Europe, exceeding the limits of the territory.

During the lecture, the minister presented the most significant results of the Ministry of Defence in the past as well as the guidelines that will be crucial in MoD’s future work to the senior commanders educated for the top duties which carry most responsibility.

In terms of organization, the Minister announced the upcoming implementation of the Inspector General's service, and the formation of the Department of Internal Audit. In addition, by mid-next year the military chaplains are expected to be introduced.

Referring to the reform of the defense,, Sutanovac said the growth of confidence in the Army, as well as live international activity should be indicators of the success of reform processes.

In that sense, a strong dialogue with representatives of the defense system of more than 50 countries has been established with 39 international agreements signed in order to maintain regional security and stability. He also emphasized the importance of integration processes in the context of prevention of organized crime and asymmetric threats our region is exposed to.

Sutanovac reminded that a significant segment of the current and future engagement of the Army in particular will be in multinational operations, which, as he estimated would be beneficial in Serbia’s defending its national interests. At the moment the peacekeepers are deployed in five peacekeeping operations, and soon another contingent f our troops will join the mission in Lebanon.

Completion of the legislative framework for the defense system and the adoption of strategic documents that have been passed the first time in history, were singled out by the minister as very important elements of the defense reform. These strategies include a Long-Term Defense System Plan of the Republic of Serbia for the period 2010-2020, the Guidelines for the Ministry in 2011, as well as the White Paper of Defense of the Republic of Serbia and the Planning and Review Process (PARP). He pointed out that there is room for further systematization and reorganization of the ministry in order to achieve better functionality.

The analysis of financial operations of the defense system, according to the Minister of Defense, shows that the ministry has not transferred debts year-on-year, as opposed to two years ago when these transferred debts reached as much as 2.79 billion RSD. This kind of economizing in the ministry, said the minister, saved 665 million RSD in interest rates.

We have made significant progress in establishing a quality command and control personnel pyramid in the Army of Serbia, the minister said, and career advancement will depend on the achieved success and personal commitment. In addition, great attention is paid to the education of members of the defense system home and abroad, the minister said.

Officers of the Army of Serbia in the coming period will be given new uniforms, which features a new digital pattern, the Minister pointed out, adding that this was an entirely domestic product.

Members of the Army of Serbia have participated in numerous domestic and international military exercises this year, and are engaged and the third mission of SAF (civil-military cooperation) to help relieve the consequences of natural disasters.

Efforts have been made to raise the reputation of the Army by introducing new unit emblems, the along with the formation of the Media Center's "ODBRANA", all this being confirmed by the latest results of Gallup public opinion polls showing that citizens have most trust in the Serbian Armed Forces among other institutions.

Priorities in the future, as he pointed Sutanovac, are completing the process of professionalization, modernization and equipment, as well as joint training and greater participation in peacekeeping missions of the EU and the UN. In addition, active participation in Partnership for Peace program, the strengthening of regional cooperation, intensifying bilateral military cooperation, especially in military economy area, as well as education and training of MoD and SAF abroad will be the focus of the defense system. In addition, the emphasis in the future will be placed on research and the development of current top priority projects, such as Lasta P2, POPS Bumbar and the sound reconnaissance system.

In the study theater of the Center for Simulation and Distance Learning of the Military Academy, 35 officers attending staff college were present , including two from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and one from Montenegro, Austria and Turkey each.

Furthermore, the lecture was attended by 55 officersof the command staff college. This year, members of the Ministry of Defense and the Army of Serbia at the level of training, will attend the same study program with two colleagues from the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a member of the armed forces of Montenegro, while one U.S. military officer will join the school later.

This year, the basic command staff has been organized for the first time with 66 of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Serbia being admitted to the course. Semi-annual training is intended to prepare officers for squad command duties and battalion staff responsibilities.